Calling it the beginning of the “last chapter” of his time at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, provincially appointed supervisor Rob Devitt unveiled his plans for creating a new single hospital corporation, along with embedding a two-site vision in its corporate documents.
Devitt announced details on Thursday about a proposed new corporate governance structure, which will mirror the long-standing integration of all other aspects of the Alliance, featuring the new hospital corporation governing both the Chatham and Wallaceburg hospital sites with a single board of directors.
“A mistake in the boardroom, will show up at the bedside,” Devitt told the Sydenham Current on Thursday.
“Thankfully in Chatham-Kent, notwithstanding all the turmoil that has happened around the board room, leading up to the investigator and then the supervisor, thankfully front line staff and physicians kept things together, but it is that important that we get it right.”
Devitt said the new board will feature 12 people, including one each from every Municipal ward in Chatham-Kent, one First Nations representative, and five other members at large.
“The bar for being on the board will be high,” Devitt said during a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
The new board will be chosen by himself, with the help of an executive search firm and committe, Devitt said.
Devitt said the proposal will be submitted to the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network, and the public will have approximately 30 days to submit feedback.
He is hoping to have an approval from the LHIN by December 31.
More details from the Health Alliance:
CKHA officials say the details announced on Thursday are critical improvements to ensure CKHA will be able to provide the care and services the community needs today, and into the future.
“This is good news for the people of Chatham-Kent and for the future of healthcare in the area,” Devitt said in a press release.
“I am confident that enshrining a two-site vision coupled with the corporate structure we’re introducing today will enable the hospital corporation to work as it should – focusing on delivering excellent healthcare today, and planning responsibly for the needs of the community in the future. In the past year, we have seen the beginning of important investments in patient care particularly in Wallaceburg while undergoing a steady transition from near-bankruptcy, to a point where healthcare and services are now being enhanced, facility visions are in place, and financial stability has returned.”
CKHA officials say Thursday’s announcement of a single corporation will lead to the end of hospital sponsorship by the Sisters of St. Joseph in the Chatham-Kent region through the St. Joseph’s Health Care Society.
“I would like to specifically acknowledge the care, dedication and compassion of the Sisters of St. Joseph for the over 100 years of service they have provided to the community and thank them for this tremendous contribution,” Devitt said in a press release.
CKHA officials say through a robust and methodical process, CKHA’s overall structure was reviewed by the Provincial Supervisor to ensure that past problems are not repeated.
The modernization of its corporate structure mirrors what has been done in a large number of other hospital systems across Ontario and ensures the introduction of recognized best governance practices, CKHA officials say.
The new corporate governance structure is aimed at correcting the governance issues that were highlighted by the Provincial Investigator last year.
Since August 31, 2016, the Alliance has been under Provincial Supervision to correct a number of serious issues that led the organization to the brink of failure.
Steps have been taken to ensure that, at a governance level: the organization’s obligations related to quality of care, performance and fiduciary duty are met; facility plans are in place for the long-term viability of both sites; a robust and skilled leadership structure is in place; workplace health is enhanced; and fiscal health is restored, hospital officials stated.
CKHA’s previous governance structure was developed 20 years ago through the Health Services Restructuring Commission’s mandate.
In the years since, other alliance type hospital systems have modified their governance structures to reflect changing times, improved knowledge of good governance practices and increased public expectations about quality, accountability and transparency.
CKHA failed to advance in step with its provincial peer organizations, CKHA officials said.
“Interestingly, all significant aspects of the Alliance hospitals have been integrated for almost 20 years including patient records, employees, medical staff, financials and quality reporting,” Devitt said in a press release.
“The only piece remaining fragmented was governance. This integration of governance, coupled with the many checks and balances put in place through new policies and by-laws, will ensure we get a skilled Board of Directors acting in the best interest of our two-site hospital system.”
Today’s announcement on structure also includes a new draft Letters Patent that clearly articulates a two-site organization, a single skills-based governance structure, a 100-page new by-law, new governance policy manual and a skills matrix to help recruit a new Board, CKHA officials say.
These documents articulate the vision of a two-site hospital system for all of the people of Chatham-Kent.
A formal integration request will be submitted to the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) and the public and interested stakeholders will then have 30 days to provide feedback to the LHIN.
The sustainability of hospitals in general, and CKHA specifically, depends on excellence in governance at all times, CKHA officials say.
Hospitals are complex organizations that require skilled Boards drawn from a diverse set of backgrounds to ensure that patient focused high quality care, accountability, and transparency are the prime focus of the organization.
CKHA officials say the structure announced today is a crucial step to ensuring that the residents of Chatham-Kent get the hospital service they deserve now and into the future.
For more information please visit www.askckha.com.
All documents are posted under “Governance.”
