Senior leaders within Nova Scotia’s health-care system are coming together to continue designing a new health authority for the province.
Leaders from district health authorities will join provincial staff to recommend a detailed plan for the merger of Nova Scotia’s health authorities.
“Moving to one provincial health authority is key to our vision of putting patients first,” said Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine. “This team will help us plan, engage stakeholders and co-ordinate all the pieces needed to create a model that promotes health and wellness, and provides safe, effective, quality front-line care.”
Nova Scotia’s nine district health authorities will be consolidated by April 1, 2015. The IWK will remain a separate authority.
The province has been working on the consolidation for months. Mr. Glavine toured provincial health authorities early this year and recently appointed Pat Lee, CEO of the Pictou County Health Authority, and Carmelle d’Entremont, of the Department of Health and Wellness, as team leads. The transition team will report to Dr. Peter Vaughan, deputy minister of Health and Wellness.
The following staff have been seconded to the Department of Health and Wellness as part of the transition team:
— Dr. Lynne Harrigan, vice-president medicine at Annapolis Valley Health
— Dr. Steven Soroka, vice-president medicine at Capital Health
— Kathy MacNeil, vice-president people at Capital Health
— Allan Horsburgh, chief financial officer, vice-president, operations and support services, IWK Health Centre
— Colin Stevenson, general manager Merged Services, formerly Colchester East Hants Health Authority
— Krista Wood, director of public relations, Colchester East Hants Health Authority
The team will work closely with government staff to recommend a new design for the health authority and plan for the transition process.
Transition team members will lead specialized working groups and gather input from health care workers, including clinical and community health professionals.
The team will recommend a new management structure for the provincial authority and its four management zones, working closely with the IWK and district health authorities. It will make recommendations to help the IWK and new authority share a vision of provincial health services for all Nova Scotians.
For more information, go to www.novascotia.ca/dhw/puttingpatientsfirst .