LITTLE CURRENT—The annual general meeting of the Manitoulin Health Centre last month also acted as the final meeting for chair Suzanne Norris, who has served in this capacity for three years and has logged a total of seven with the board.
Ms. Norris began her final report to the board by speaking of the number of goals they had accomplished over the last year. “As a board, we worked hard at creating a vision for our strategic plan and we have continued to be very successful in living our plan’,” she addressed the board.
“Last year, the board had set goals with respect to the Manitoulin Central Family Health Team project in Mindemoya and also the initial plans of development for Little Current’s emergency department renovations,” Ms. Norris continued. “As you know, the Family Health Team in Mindemoya had its official opening in September 2015. The Little Current emergency department renovation is well underway with anticipated completion in the fall of 2016. ‘Putting Patients First’ has been our focus. These two projects alone improve access, streamline triaging and make the administration process easier for patients.”
Under the direction of the board, our CEO Derek Graham has worked diligently to bring together the Manitoulin Health Collaborative, Ms. Norris continued. “Through his efforts with senior management, this year saw a broad array of partner organizations from across the Island and from all parts of the health care system come forward to become signatories to the collaborative agreement. As a result, this agreement will allow the organizations to align their efforts for better care planning and service coordination, strengthening our healthcare delivery to our communities. The Collaborative also brought forward a response to the Minister’s Patients First document in December 2015.”
“Although there were no formal fundraising projects, continued hard work from our auxiliaries and our community family brought in generous donations to the Manitoulin Health Centre,” the chair added. “We have worked hard to establish these relationships within the community and their generosity has not gone unnoticed.”
Ms. Norris also thanked those who left the board—Joe Laford, Dr. Al Hadi and Lorraine Ottley—and those who have joined the board, Dr. Mike Bedard and Michael Shain. The chair also gave a “huge thank you” to Lori Mastelko who keeps the board “organized, fed, watered and on time.”
After the formalities, Ms. Norris reflected on her time with the board. She explained that she has been volunteering since the age of 15. “That’s 40 years of volunteering,” she said, crediting her mother for instilling in her the importance of volunteerism, specifically in the field of health.
“As a result, I’ve always been an advocate for my own health,” she said. “We volunteer because we want to belong to something bigger.”
“We are stewards of the Manitoulin Health Centre, and the community should keep that close to their hearts,” Ms. Norris added.
The board chair thanked everyone for making an impact on her life, noting Chief Financial Officer Lynn Foster and Chief Nursing Officer Pat Morka. “They are our stewards of patient care and finances. I see them work tirelessly. Your dedication is exemplary.”
Ms. Norris thanked Dr. Stephen Cooper “for always bringing that different perspective to the board table,” acknowledged Kim Hannoway in human resources and fellow board member Angela Becks for supporting her in her first year as chair. She also thanked Chris Bousquet for filling in as chair for her during the times that family matters called her away from the board table.
“Derek,” she addressed the CAO, “we got to know each other personally over the past years and spending so much time with another person, you get to know in your heart whether they’re the right person for the organization. Your grassroots approach as a leader brings passion to the organization. You have a strong commitment and dedication to the MHC and especially the people it serves.”
“I am so grateful for all your support at each meeting,” Ms. Norris next spoke to the board. “I respect all of your life experiences and what that brings,” she added, likening the MHC to a tapestry, not unlike one by world famous Bay Estates textile artist Judy Martin. “Everyone is a part of that tapestry.”
Mr. Graham spoke next, noting that the MHC is far more than 32 beds. In one year the hospital is responsible for 21,000 emergency visits, 2,300 visiting specialist appointments, over 50,000 lab tests, 6,000 physio appointments, 18,000 diagnostic tests and 210 rounds of chemotherapy administered.
“What does that mean for the families and people we serve?” he asked. “It means we are the stewards of this organization, tasked in doing something extremely important and extremely precious. The community counts on us.”
“When the community knows the hospital is in need of something, they respond, and that’s the greatest barometer,” Mr. Graham continued. “The board can take some credit for that success—making sure we’re on track and continuing to deliver that breadth of care—you should all really be proud of that.”
Following the annual general meeting, the board elected Terry Olmstead of Gore Bay to the position of chair.
