"One Health Care Super Board"

[LChoy]

Health Region reform officially announced today

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...5-dd0453e6487a

Essentially what it means is that the 9 health regions of Alberta and the 3 Health boards (Cancer, Mental Health, and AADAC) will be reporting to one “super board” that reports to the Minister of Health (and Alberta Health and Wellness). Before, each entity had its own board of directors. The goal now is that it’ll improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the health system.

Can’t really comment about it from my end, just that it has been hotly debated in government before being released today

[Nufy]

So....retirement packages and severance bonuses for how many people again ?????

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by Nufy

So....retirement packages and severance bonuses for how many people again ?????

Exactly, I was just thinking that we needed another link in the chain of command to speed up the health care process...

(you like what I did there with links and chains? I am pretty proud of it. But, then again, I am simple.)

[Thunderball]

If they want to get serious about gutting inefficiency and better organization, they would switch to one health REGION, not one overseeing health board. Alberta has 3.3 million people, we don't need nine little administrations.

This is a step in the right direction though.

[LChoy]

One step at a time. Too many people will freak out if it became 1 region effective immediately
Before 1994, there were 128 acute care hospital boards, 25 public health boards, and 40 long term care boards. We're getting better at this efficiency thing *wink*
The biggest challenge of course is equal representation for all Albertans. While it is easy to say we need 1 region, the health characteristics and management for people in Northern Alberta is different than for Southern Alberta. People have different needs in small rural villages, compared to big cities like Edmonton and Calgary.

[I_am_Beast]

i think it's a step in the right direction, but something like this kinda looks like more of a PR move. Calgary's board was known for complaining to the media, keeping things in the light... now it'll be pretty hard to directly complain about the guy signing your cheque.

[Slava]

The thing that drives me crazy about this is that we just had an election a few months ago...about NOTHING! Then they come out and say that major health reforms are needed. This should be totally illegal! Its got to be criminal that you can campaign basically saying that things are great and then the second you get elected you want to reform the entire system and make complete changes.

[I_am_Beast]

Originally Posted by Slava

The thing that drives me crazy about this is that we just had an election a few months ago...about NOTHING! Then they come out and say that major health reforms are needed. This should be totally illegal! Its got to be criminal that you can campaign basically saying that things are great and then the second you get elected you want to reform the entire system and make complete changes.

well the system isn't holding now, so any change could be good. The Tories really doing this, and if it fails puts ownership on them 100%

So they better have a strong boat for this cause the band-aid arn't holding on.

[Slava]

I agree that something has to be done. Its just frustrating that nothing was said when people could've had their say/input two months ago. I am not even saying that I disagree with what the Tories are doing...just that they should've campaigned on this like adults.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Slava

The thing that drives me crazy about this is that we just had an election a few months ago...about NOTHING! Then they come out and say that major health reforms are needed. This should be totally illegal! Its got to be criminal that you can campaign basically saying that things are great and then the second you get elected you want to reform the entire system and make complete changes.

IIRC, it was more or less their platform that they'd look at the state of affairs and re-tool what needed to be re-tooled.
I do remember shortly after the election, the PCs announced that they were going to analyze health care and make some changes. They also said that they needed a month or something before they'd make an announcement.

This wasn't exactly an ambush.

[Slava]

4X4 you are right that after the election they said that they were doing some re-tooling, and that is always fair.

Thing is that when you have been in power for decades and created the mess than you should man up and tell people what the plan is to fix it when you're trying to save your job on election day. If the system needs major re-tooling then that should've been stated clear as day in their platform, along with what their plan was.

Pretty ridiculous to come in now, make major changes (including putting an insurance guy in as the temporary head of the board!), and act as though this is all off the cuff.

[4X4]

Of course, it all depends on what you call a mess. I tell you one thing though, what gets my goat about the so called lack of health care is the fact that we pay AHC premiums. Money that is supposed to go directly into health care but doesn't necessarily.
Gotta admit that they pulled a Ralph with the pending elimination of premiums. They've got my support again, for now.

[Azure]

I'm a bit surprised by the changes they're making as well.

Never expected them at all.