About Us
Board Meeting Highlights
Board Highlights
December 17, 2008
At last night’s meeting of the Tri-Board of St. Joseph’s, Public General and Sydenham District Hospitals, Directors:
- Received financial statements ending November 30, 2008, noting a year-end deficit forecast of $4M (to March 31, 2009). Revenues are less than budgeted due to several factors – an aggressive budget estimation, lower than budgeted clinical volumes, and the economic downturn reducing the number of patients carrying private and semi-private health insurance. Absenteeism and sick time expenses are higher than planned and reduction efforts continue. Supply costs are up, in part due to an increasing use of costly products.
- Approved a new policy – Financial Performance, Conditions, Controls and Authorities, the first in a planned suite of financial and enterprise risk management and oversight policies at the governance level.
- Received a report from its Mission and Quality Committee. Highlights included:
- growth in the outpatient psychiatric clinic volume;
- hospital acquired infection rates are regularly reported and posted on the website. Strategies continue to improve rates toward a goal of zero hospital acquired infections.
- Congratulated the Chief of Staff office on hosting twenty-five 2nd year medical students from University of Western Ontario. The goal is to increase medical learners at CKHA.
- Heard that “Home for the Holidays” will welcome local medical students and residents on December 22nd. (News Release previously circulated)
- Were pleased to hear of the beginning of weekly ENT clinics at Sydenham campus with Dr. Samy. The clinics are held on Wednesdays and require referral by a family physician.
- Noted that CKHA executive met with the ESC LHIN to review progress on the fiscal recovery efforts. An operational review continues, with strategies to be shared in the new year. Opportunities include efficiency gains, consolidation, benchmarking to hospital peer performance, changes in organizational design, and matching service levels to funding.
- Heard that the ESC LHIN will publicly release the findings of its Emergency Department study before the end of January 2009.
- Congratulated the Foundation of CKHA on reaching $2M toward its $3.5M goal for the “Making the Right Investment – MRI Campaign”
The next regularly scheduled Tri-Board meeting is January 27, 2009 beginning at 6:30 pm in the Education Centre (Chatham Campus). Please RSVP Nick Brownlee at 519-354-6401 Ext. 6001
'Board Highlights’ is published by the Communications & Community Relations Department for the information of staff, media and community and is posted on the Alliance’s website, www.ckha.on.ca