A long-lost letter from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care addressed to Colin Patey, president and CEO of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, praised the “outstanding emergency department performance” at the Sydenham Campus in Wallaceburg.
The letter was dated July 28, 2015 however, members of the Sydenham District Hospital board of directors have only laid eyes on the letter in the past couple of weeks.
“This letter has never been mentioned to this board, this letter has never been mentioned by the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance despite the fact that the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance raves about awards that it gets,” said Sheldon Parsons, chair of the SDH board, during their board meeting on Wednesday in Wallaceburg.
Parsons said he stumbled across the letter in a mailbox at the Sydenham Campus for SDH board mail, something he never knew existed.
The letter was written by Melissa Farrell, executive director for health system funding and quality for the Ministry.
“We are pleased to recognize the outstanding Emergency Department (ED) performance that has been achicved at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance – Sydenham Campus,” Farrell wrote.
“Your hospital has shown the greatest improvement in the 90th percentile ED Length of STay (LOS) for all patients within the Very-Low Volume Community Hospital Group in 2014 compared to the previous year. As part of the Minister’s Action Plan for Health Care, putting patients first is at the core of health system transformation. In alignment with the principles of Health System Funding Reform, we are looking to build on successes and further improve the quality of care for the patient.”
Farrell says in the letter that Sydenham Campuses performance improved by 10% compared to its performance in 2013.
“By continuously reducing the time people spend in the ED, your hospital is supporting Ontario’s Action Plan for Health Care by ensuring that the people of Ontario receive faster access to the right care,” Farrell wrote.
“The outstanding ED performance of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance – Sydenham Campus also support the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) in achieving its Ministry-LHIN Performance Agreement targets. Thank you for your commitment to reducing provincial wait times and improving emergency care for the people of Ontario.”\
Farrell specifically mentioned Patey in the letter, saying: “Your Emergency Room / Alternate Level of Care LHIN Performance Lead, Laurie Zimmer, will continue to have ongoing discussions with you regarding how the strategies that contributed to this achievement can be leveraged to help improve ED performance at other hospitals across the province. Wishing you continued success in 2015.”
The letter was also sent to Laurie Zimmer, Dr. David NG, ED LHIN Lead, Gary Switzer, the former CEO of the LHIN, Dr. Martin Girash, board chair of the LHIN and to Paul Weese, the former board chair of the SDH board.
“I’m kind of in shock that this wasn’t publicized,” said Herb John, SDH board member.
“Every other achievement that the hospital gets, every recognition it receives, it is mentioned at the mission and quality meetings, everybody gets credits and compliments. This is a huge accolade for this hospital and the service provided in emergency here and nothing is mentioned and we found out by chance.”
“How can the atmosphere change so drastically from July to November, when we started to hear about potential changes,” added Kris Lee, SDH board member.
“So within six months, how come everything went upside down in that short period of time.”
Parsons said this letter does not coincide with recent comments made by CKHA senior leadership and medical leaders.
“I think the professionals, the nursing staff, the physicians… all the staff that work here, I think have taken a hit in recent weeks by statements from the medical leadership at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance,” he said.
Here is a copy of the full letter:
Watch for more on this story.
More public deception by CKHAs CEO what else has not been disclosed!