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Board Meeting Highlights

Board Highlights
April 28, 2010

At last night’s meeting of the Tri-Board of St. Joseph’s, Public General and Sydenham District Hospitals, Directors:

• Reviewed the medical staff credentialing process – a means for hospitals to ensure quality patient care, through selection and retention of competent physicians and healthcare providers.
• Were updated on the work of its Mission & Quality Committee including review of its regular quality and performance reports. A presentation by the Program and Medical Director of the Rehab, Complex Continuing Care & Chronic Disease Management Program highlighted key indicators including clinical outcomes, patient safety data and patient satisfaction. 
• Noted efforts to control and reduce C. difficile infection (CDI) within the hospitals. Ongoing initiatives include heightened surveillance, strict contact precautions, private room accommodations, changed nursing processes, staff/patient/public education and communication, and stringent environmental cleaning processes. 
• Acknowledged wait times for CT (28 days) and MRI (61 days) which are much shorter than the provincial average of 53 days and 116 days respectively.
• Noted that a proposal for expansion has been submitted to the London Regional Dialysis Program for final approval and submission to the LHIN and Ministry. CKHA currently operates 6 Dialysis chairs and there are 17 patients awaiting local service.
• Heard that the Surgery Program undertook a Kaizen event with objectives to reduce average length of stay on the inpatient surgical unit; eliminate the occurrence of surgical procedure cancellations; improve the flow of patient care; and analyze data related to bookings and discharges. Results will be reported through the Mission & Quality Committee in the coming months.
• Noted that CKHA is participating in a Ministry-funded initiative designed to support improvements in Emergency Departments. Called ED Process Improvement Program (ED-PIP) it will help CKHA to deliver on its quality and performance objectives and is a proven approach to improving such ED metrics as average length of stay. Staff and physician project champions have been identified and the program launch is scheduled in May.
• Received a report regarding CKHA’s Occupational Health and Safety programs which ensure all legislative requirements are met or exceeded, occupational health and safety performance is improved, occupational injuries/illnesses/fatalities are prevented and support to healthcare workers through disability management programs is provided.
• Noted new signs at hospital campuses to communicate CKHA’s smoke-free properties.
• Were refreshed on Tri-Board communication systems (originally adopted in 2003) including purpose, principles and components of Board communications and its approach to decision making. The Governance Committee will undertake a review of these systems in the coming months as a matter of due diligence and in keeping with current best practices in Board communications. 
• Received the monthly report from its Strategic Planning Committee noting ongoing communication methods used to inform staff and community of CKHA’s strategic goals. At the completion of the Strategic Plan’s first year, a progress report will be publicly posted on CKHA’s website. Beginning in the Fall, Tri-Board meetings will include a progress update on corporate goals that support each of the 4 strategic directions: - We will partner with patients and their families in the delivery of safe, quality care - We will attract, develop, engage and celebrate our people - We will achieve excellence through innovation - We will set the performance standard for community hospitals
• Noted that the annual Tri-Board Orientation Program is being planned by the Governance Committee including an orientation package for corporation members, sent with their membership confirmation letters in advance of the Annual General meeting. 
• Congratulated the Foundation of CKHA on its successful Parade of Chefs. The annual event raised $17,000 towards the purchase of a defibrillator at Chatham campus and a blood gas analyzer at Sydenham campus.
• Expressed appreciation to CKHA’s hundreds of volunteers on the occasion of national Volunteer Week (April 18-24, 2010)

The next Tri-Board meeting is May 25th beginning at 6:30 pm in the Board Room of the Wallaceburg Municipal Centre. Kindly RSVP 519-437-6001.

‘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