Release. Fraser Health is moving ahead on 10 priority actions to improve patient care in the region, announced Health Minister Terry Lake today, as he released the health authority’s strategic and operational report and concluded the Fraser Health review.
“The plan put forward by the Fraser Health board addresses the issues facing the health authority, from quality concerns to achieving balance between acute care and primary and community care,” said Lake. “I would like to thank the board and the review committee for the tremendous amount of work and consideration they took in preparing this plan.”
The report identifies 10 priority action areas to ensure quality and sustainable service delivery in Fraser Health. They include improving the health authority’s capacity for care by reducing unnecessary use of hospitals; investing in more community care; improving the quality of care delivered in hospitals; building on recent primary care achievements; and delivering a balanced budget.
“We will continue to invest in our acute care system, but we need to ensure the right mix of services in the community, so patients can better manage their health, avoid hospitalization and move more safely and quickly through the hospital system,” said interim board chair Wynne Powell. “We will hold ourselves accountable to the actions identified in the plan and will be regularly reporting out to the ministry and the public on our progress.”
A ministry-led sub-committee also looked at how health-care services are delivered and coordinated in the three lower mainland health authorities. It found there are a number of opportunities to improve services such as cardiac care, stroke care, medical research and education, through better coordination across the Lower Mainland.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us but we have clear direction and clear goals,” said interim CEO David Ostrow. “I have seen first-hand the dedication of staff in Fraser Health and I am confident that we will be able to work together with the other Lower Mainland health authorities to provide the best possible patient-focused care, for the residents of the Fraser Valley and the entire Lower Mainland region.”
The review also found the current regional health boundaries in the Lower Mainland effectively serve their respective populations. However, it concluded there may be benefits to reexamining health authority boundaries. Over the next year, the ministry will review the boundaries to ensure they properly reflect the demographics and patient needs. Boundary changes would only be considered after full community engagement and consultation.
In late October 2013, Health Minister Terry Lake ordered a strategic and operational review of Fraser Health by a team of B.C. health leaders. The board of directors of Fraser Health Ministry of Health supported the operational and strategic review, and was required to submit this new, three year strategic and operational plan following the review.
Learn more:
- Fraser Health’s Strategic and Operational Report: http://fraserhealth.ca/stratplan
- Backgrounder: Priority actions for service delivery in Fraser Health
- Backgrounder: Summary points from the Fraser Health Strategic and Operational Plan