Political walk-about highlights Richmond Hospital’s many successes

Minister of Health Terry Lake and Richmond MLAs Linda Reid and Teresa Wat visited Richmond Hospital Tuesday afternoon to learn more about the key role it plays in keeping Richmond’s 200,000 residents in good health.

Karen Young, PCC 3 Medicine Acute, chats with the Minister.

Frontline leaders  — including Rich Dillon, Manager, ED;  Lisa Ramage, Manager, Mental Health & Addiction;  and Harjender Walia, Manager, Medical Services, OT and Social Work  — spoke directly with the Minister and MLAs about their specific areas of care during the course of the 90-minute tour.

For his part, the Minister also asked some key questions around preparedness for Ebola, the management of capacity and flow, and commended staff who is working hard to improve patient care and services.

Sylvia Norbrega, Educator 3 Medicine Acute, explains LEAN methodology to the Minister and MLAs.

The informal walk-and-talk stopped at several units – including the Emergency Department, the Birth Centre, and 6 Surgery where renovations to patient rooms are underway, and the need for a new medical tower was discussed.

The group also visited 3 Medicine Acute where Richmond’s ongoing success with Releasing Time to Care was highlighted and Minister Lake signed the commitment board where hospital leaders pledge their participation in daily patient-care huddles.

Pam Baker (left), PCC 6 Surgery, and Minister Lake talk about the new bed map with incoming Richmond COO Jennifer MacKenzie looking on.

The walk-about, led by interim Chief Operating Officer Dermot Kelly, also included Claude Stang , Director of Critical Care, Emergency, Medicine Services and Patient Flow; Natalie McCarthy, Director of Richmond Mental Health & Addiction and Residential Care; Jennifer Mackenzie, Incoming Chief Operating Officer, Richmond; Dr. Brenda Wagner, Senior Medical Director; and Natalie Meixner, President & CEO, Richmond Hospital Foundation.

“I am extremely proud of our work in Richmond,” said Kelly. “I am continually humbled by the accomplishments of our teams, by their ongoing commitment to providing compassionate and high quality care. It was an honour for me to be involved in the sharing of  your many success stories with the Minster of Health, Terry Lake, and Richmond MLAs.”