Message from the VCH board chair: ‘David brought stability and a renewed focus on the human side of health care’
Dr. David Ostrow has advised the Board of his intention to retire as President and CEO of Vancouver Coastal Health in Spring, 2014.
David is retiring from a health care career that has spanned almost five decades, the last five years of which have been as the CEO of VCH. There is absolutely no doubt that his commitment and contribution to the organization – and health care – will be missed.
During his time as President and CEO, Vancouver Coastal Health has continued to grow as an innovative provider of quality care. Under his leadership, we have seen pay for performance incentives to improve patient flow; industry-leading productivity improvements such as reduced sick time/overtime and programs that support employees to return to work; commitments to address the needs of our populations with mental illness and addictions; as well as major capital projects such as the Segal Family Wellness Centre at Vancouver General Hospital, the HOpe Centre at Lions Gate Hospital and a new St. Mary’s Hospital in Sechelt to name just a few.
David brought stability and a renewed focus on the human side of health care when appointed as President and CEO in 2009. He was the driver behind the introduction of our “People First” lens and True North strategic goals. Through his philosophy of putting patients first and redesigning our system to be patient rather than provider focused, VCH has built on the legacies of others to become one of Canada’s most respected and accountable health care organizations. His commitment to transformation has been entrenched as we proceed with the Clinical and Systems Transformation (CST) project also launched under his watch.
Further credit to him and his leadership team is that they achieved all of this – and much more – within a framework of fixed budgets and an environment of ever increasing demand for services.
In the coming weeks, the Board of Directors and I will commence a formal recruitment process to search for a new President and CEO. In the meantime, David will remain in his position and continue to work with his Senior Executive Team to lead VCH into the Spring of next year.
I encourage you to join me in thanking David for his outstanding commitment not just to VCH, but to the BC and Canadian health care systems and the people they serve.
Kip Woodward
Board Chair