Presidents’ Pen: A Meeting and a Congratulations

Notwithstanding the title, there are four points in this month’s newsletter. All are (IMHO) important.

 1. iHealth Update

Mr. Owen Haley has recently taken charge of the introduction of iHealth. He comes with a track record of successfully doing so in in two separate locations in Alberta, as well as Singapore. After quite some time working with our medical colleagues in Nanaimo, their comments are quite positive.

On the assumption that iHealth will sometime be coming to us, your Executive has invited Mr. Haley to the next MSA Executive meeting to share his ideas and approaches for a successful introduction.

We got his permission to expand the meeting to an “Executive –Plus” one that could include other interested members of the medical staff. Because it is preliminary, to give us an idea as to how we should go about organizing ourselves , we thought it better to do this before a (later) general meeting of the medical staff.

We really would like interested colleagues to come. W would really like representatives (hopefully two) from each department or division. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday July 24, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the latest in RJH PCC S169. For those attending, sessional funding will be available from the FEI Society.

If you would like to come, please let us know in advance through info@southislandmsa.ca.

2. FEI Funding

We are delighted to announce that, with the resolution of funding discussions with SSC, there will be a further call for FEI projects this fall. The application form will change slightly. Some of our colleagues are successfully receiving funding from two sources, and we have to make sure that there is clarity about what is being spent where. We will follow some of the format used in Nanaimo, but will continue trying to balance “ease of access” with fiduciary transparency.

3. Legislative Committee

By the time you read this, the Legislative Committee will have finished a complete first draft of the proposed revisions to the Medical Staff Rules. They will be placed on our website for everyone to read. Remember they form part of YOUR agreement with the Health Authority. While the committee may deem them to be fair (otherwise we will have wasted an enormous number of hours), nevertheless they need to be carefully read and scrutinized. If there are any concerns, please let either myself or Catherine Jenkins, the committee Chair know ASAP.

4. A Shout-Out and Congratulations

Congratulations to Dr. Jean Maskey on achieving the designation of Canadian Certified Physician Executive (CCPE). It is really great when practicing clinicians who continue dealing with patients on a day-to-day basis are recognized not just for their clinical accomplishments but also for their administrative knowledge.  Practicing clinicians with such skills (not just physicians, but all who deal directly with patients as a major part of their day) are the most valuable, but sometimes most ignored, resource in our health care system.

Have a great summer.

Don Milliken