2020 BC Health Care Awards Program

Virtual

2020 14TH ANNUAL B C H E A LT H C A R E A WA R D S

Welcome from HEABC’s Board Chair and President & CEO Welcome to the 14th annual BC Health Care Awards.

HEABC launched the awards in 2007 to recognize outstanding individuals, projects and teams who work to ensure that BC’s health care system remains among the best in the world. They also remind us that care for patients, clients and residents is at the heart of what we do.

Over the past 13 years, we have honoured some truly remarkable individuals, including nurses, social workers, physicians, paramedics, researchers, physiotherapists, technicians and technologists. We have also recognized groundbreaking teams working in the areas of mental health, cancer research, palliative care, infection control, medical management, chronic disease management and residential care. This year, we are honouring projects and individuals working in such diverse areas as infection control, emergency management, patient care and workplace psychological health and safety.

The nomination period for the 2020 awards ended just as the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in BC last spring, and the awards luncheon, originally scheduled for the end of June, was postponed. At that time, we thought it could be rescheduled for the fall, but of course, with ongoing pandemic-related health and safety precautions, that was not to be the case. Out of respect for those who submitted nominations, and appreciation for the great work that was recognized, we are pleased to present the 2020 BC Health Care Awards online at youtube.com/ BCHealthCareAwards. Thank you for watching, and congratulations to all of those who are being honoured and recognized.

Thank you also to those who have supported the 2020 BC Health Care Awards, including HEABC members, the awards sponsors and this year’s team of volunteer judges.

Betsy Gibbons Board Chair

Michael McMillan President & CEO

THANK YOU 2020 SPONSORS

HEABC acknowledges the following organizations for their generous contributions to the 2020 BC Health Care Awards. We are very grateful for their support and thank them for helping to recognize deserving health care employees across BC.

CMYK

Pantone

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In-kind sponsor In-kind sponsor

THANK YOU 2020 JUDGES

We would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to our judges for generously volunteering their time to select this year’s award recipients. Our independent panel of judges is made up of leaders from BC’s business, academic and health care communities. We are very grateful for their support and contribution.

PAMELA CAWLEY Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, Douglas College SHERMAN CHAN Director, MOSAIC PAUL GALLANT Principal Consultant, Gallant HealthWorks & Associates BRETT HODSON Director, Communications, BC Patient Safety & Quality Council CATHRYN JACKSON Associate Director, UBC School of Nursing MICHAEL KARY Director, Policy & Research, BC Care Provider’s Association LISA KERSHAW Managing Partner, Boyden DR. RONALD LINDSTROM Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences, Royal Roads University MARGARET MCNEIL CEO, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice SHEH SHOJAEE Director of Operations and Strategic HR, CPHR BC & Yukon ARLENE WARD President, Genesis Rehabilitation Ltd. PATRICIA WOROCH CEO, Immigrant Services Society of BC

DIANNA MAH-JONES AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN PERSON-CENTRED CARE GOLD APPLE

Scholar in Residence Program of Research: Mobilizing Person-Centred Care & Patient-Oriented Research in Mental Health & Substance Use Island Health Stigma is one of the fundamental challenges people who use drugs face when seeking access to care. This can result in people delaying or avoiding seeking care and services for fear of being judged, turned away, or treated badly.

Island Health’s Scholar in Residence (SIR) program was launched in 2015 as part of an initiative to build the organization’s research capacity, specifically engaging patients as partners in order to answer questions that matter to them, with the broader aim to improve health systems.

With overdose deaths sweeping the province, the SIR program couldn’t have

additional $2.5 million in funding for further research has been secured through various funders including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Health Canada.

Project Lead Dr. Bernadette (Bernie) Pauly Project Team Dr. Karen Urbanoski Taylor Hainstock Brittany Graham Jennifer Cartwright Meaghan Brown Katrina Jensen Cindy Trytten Heather Hobbs Diane Sawchuk Bill Bullock Keva Glynn Catriona Park Richard Crow Alisa Harrison Kelly Reid Troy Haddad Mary Morrison Paige Phillips Morgan Boc Hailly Wagner Tracey Thompson Mark Wilson Kathy Easton Jack Phillips Paul Hasselback Grant Schlotter (RIP) Devin Lynn Sharlene Law Lorna McLellan Evan James Lorraine Bates Conor Rosen Stephanie McCune Fred Cameron Todd Haspect Jill Cater (RIP) Rebecca Barnes Christopher Hancock

come at a better time. The program is hoping to find answers as to how stigma can be reduced so people feel safer and more willing to access care and services when they need it the most.

The SIR program has achieved many positive outcomes and an

For reducing stigma in support of providing timely care by listening to the needs of those with lived experience, the SIR program is awarded the Gold Apple in the Dianna Mah-Jones Award of Excellence in Person-Centred Care category.

Sponsored by HBT

TOP INNOVATION GOLD APPLE

Open Heart Surgery Surgical Site Infection Program Island Health In 2015, the rate for open heart surgery wound infections in Island Health was 7.7 per cent, well above the average in Canada. In addition to the patient care concerns, the high level of surgical site infections was costing the organization around $900,000 a year.

Upon investigation, Island Health learned that a fragmented reporting system was

the reason for the higher rate. Teams from various hospitals had different ways of reporting infections, which resulted in unreliable, inaccessible and untimely data collected and duplication of efforts.

Island Health realized that improvements were needed to enhance patient care and reduce post-surgical infections following open heart surgery. Working together

sources and paper trails while providing accurate on-demand reporting. REDCap has become the tool of choice for data collection of infections rates for frontliners in cardiac patient care.

The OHS SSI program has resulted in a drop in infection rates per 100 open heart surgery procedures to 2.3 per cent and reduced organizational costs by up to $500,000 per year.

Patient experience has improved significantly, decreasing the length of hospital stays, and confidence has been restored for future patients.

Project Lead Laura Shaw Project Team Claire Mackelson Janice Wallace Ryan Davis Dr. Lynn Fedoruk Teresa Hanna

with patients and a multidisciplinary group of clinicians, cardiac surgeons, clinical nurse educators, heart health quality management, and infection prevention and control practitioners, the Open Heart Surgery Surgical Site Infection (OHS SSI) Prevention and Reduction program was created.

The program became the first adopter of REDCap, a custom data management tool that is accessible 24/7 and eliminates multiple data

Dr. Manjeet Mann Julie Marriott Mary-Ann Metcalfe Dorothy Morris Blair Ranns Tokoro (Koko) Wakako

For pioneering a proactive approach to quality improvement to reduce and prevent surgical site infections, Island Health’s Open Heart Surgery Surgical Site Infection program is awarded the Gold Apple for Top Innovation.

Sponsored by Boyden

WORKPLACE HEALTH INNOVATION GOLD APPLE

Mindfulness for Psychological Health Study Fraser Health In 2019, Fraser Health’s Leadership and Organizational Development team embarked on an organization-wide study to find out whether practising mindfulness has a direct impact on work performance, engagement and wellbeing. This was the largest study of its kind ever conducted in the province, with a total of 600 Fraser Health employees participating.

The Mindfulness for Psychological Health study comes out of Fraser Health’s commitment to a workplace that is psychologically healthy and safe, and aligned with the National Standard of Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, which is a set of guidelines to assess and address key psycho-social factors impacting worker well-being.

clear indication of the lasting impact mindfulness has on employee wellbeing.

The study helped prompt the further adoption of mindfulness practices throughout Fraser Health, both at the individual level—with over 3,500 more staff accessing the digital mindfulness program—as well as the organizational level— where management team business meetings began with a collective strategic breathing exercise.

Programs like mindfulness training are one of the ways Fraser Health is creating a workplace where team members are supported in taking care of their personal psychological health and well-being.

Project Lead Thomas Clyne-Salley Project Team Yabome GilpinJackson Adam Kay

Participants used a personalized digital mindfulness program which included training videos on breath work and mindfulness exercises.

Participants from the study showed improvements in well-being, engagement, job satisfaction, performance and less job burnout.

Some reported a continual increase in engagement with their work, a

Daniel P. Skarlicki Cathryn Smith

For pioneering psychological health and safety programming in the workplace, the Gold Apple in Workplace Health Innovation is awarded to Fraser Health’s Mindfulness for Psychological Health study.

Sponsored by Roper Greyell

COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS GOLD APPLE

‘One’ System of ECLS Care - Partnering to Save Lives in BC Vancouver Coastal Health At Vancouver General Hospital, a gamechanging solution is giving lung transplant patients hope for a better quality of life.

The solution—‘ECMO’ or Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation—is a collaborative program developed by 42 health partners from more than 10 organizations. ECMO is an advanced form of life support that pumps and oxygenates blood outside the body so a patient’s heart and lungs

can rest. It is a safer alternative to using a ventilator, which can lead to permanent damaging effects and even death.

This collaboration has resulted in the creation of effective new clinical protocols that are holistic and address all steps in a patient’s journey, from survival and safety to quality of life.

The team now includes the work of many disciplines including, doctors, nurses, perfusionists, respiratory therapists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, Extracorporeal Life Support Program specialists and dietitians.

Project Lead Dr. Hussein Kanji Project Team VCH: Jackie Murray (co-director) Amandeep Sidhu Simmie Kalan Vinay Dhingra George Isac Gord Finlayson SPH/Providence: Nav Johal FHA: Derek Gunning Kyle O’Scienny VIHA: Gordon Wood Al Davenport IHA: Ryan Foster Savy Spada

The program is the first in Canada to receive the prestigious Gold Level Status from the international Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. The ECMO program is not only improving care for patients but increasing their chances of survival.

BCCH: Linda Edwards Peter Skippen PHSA: Lexie Flatt MoH: Jan Butler BC Emergency Health Services: Rob Schlamp Ole Olsen BC Cardiac Services: Sean Hardiman BC Patient Safety Quality Council: Ben Ridout Christina Krause

For reducing mortality and improving the quality of life for patients who require ventilation, the Gold Apple in Collaborative Solutions is awarded to Vancouver Coastal Health’s ‘One’ System of Care–Partnering to Save Lives in BC program.

Sponsored by Doctors of BC

HEALTH CARE HERO GOLD APPLE

Linda Warner Clinical Research Manager, BC Children’s Hospital Provincial Health Services Authority Linda Warner has always been a champion for those in need in her own community and abroad. A humanitarian at heart, Linda believes in effective health care for everyone, everywhere, and has volunteered with charities in many marginalized communities that have been devastated by natural disasters and poverty, including Dominican Republic, Mexico, Haiti and Tanzania. One of the accomplishments she is most proud of is volunteering as a pediatric nurse in Haiti with Rose Charities, a Canadian charity helping people overcome poverty through education, community support and health care.

For four years, Linda dedicated her compassionate spirit, time and nursing expertise in Haiti, running a pediatric clinic to care for impoverished children. There, she worked as a first responder, provided pediatric care and assessment, and later helped facilitate a neonatal resuscitation teaching program for Haitian doctors and nurses, while living in adverse conditions herself. With her tenacious and resilient spirit, Linda did what she does best and persevered. Her focus has always been on listening to the needs of others, providing education and empowering people to be active partners in their own care.

In her day-to-day work, Linda is a Clinical Research Coordinator, leading a very successful Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development cohort study in Vancouver and across Canada, with the goal of advancing the health status and well-being of children in Canada. Her career has been centred on promoting advocacy and empowerment for all health care patients and research participants in partner-centred care, and facilitating a voice for children as well as their parents.

For being a passionate health care champion, with an unfailing commitment to social advocacy for those in need, as well as inspiring others to follow suit, Linda Warner is this year’s Gold Apple Health Care Hero.

Sponsored by Pacific Blue Cross

OUTSTANDING HEALTH CARE VOLUNTEER GOLD APPLE

“Joe is a source of encouragement and inspiration to all.”

Erin Beaudoin, Executive Director of Eden Homes

Joe Wittkofski Volunteer Nanaimo Travellers Lodge Society o/a Eden Gardens Joe Wittkofski has been a volunteer with Eden Gardens care home for the past five years, and his charisma, infectious positive energy and a desire to make a difference has truly touched the lives of residents, their families and staff.

After retirement, Joe and his wife moved from the US to Canada and found Eden Gardens where he felt an instant connection to its mission, vision, and people. Jumping in with both feet, Joe made volunteering there his second career.

As a volunteer, Joe has put his professional skills such as photography, videography and fundraising to good use.

Understanding that loved ones are not always there to attend events held at the care home, Joe captures residents enjoying events on his camera and then shares them with their family and friends so they too can feel a part of it. Care homes can be a lonely place for residents, and Joe’s ‘joie de vivre,’ sense of adventure and spontaneity has captured so many hearts and smiles, truly enriching the lives of residents, and resulting in more laughter, joy and happier days.

Eden Gardens is a registered charity that relies heavily on donations to fund its many programs, and Joe has made a significant impact on the fundraising initiatives. He poured his heart and soul into elevating each fundraising event. Whether it was filming for a charity piece, the room set-up, entertainment or the look and feel of the event, Joe did it all.

“Joe is a source of encouragement and inspiration to all,” says Erin Beaudoin, Executive Director of Eden Homes. “Evidence of his work is everywhere throughout our care home, and it is always a pleasure to come across another project that has been touched by Joe.”

For his commitment to using his many talents to make Eden Gardens a better place, Joe Wittkofski has been named this year’s Outstanding Health Care Volunteer.

Sponsored by George & Bell Consulting

DIANNA MAH-JONES AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN PERSON-CENTRED CARE AWARD OF MERIT

For their work to provide patients and families with a meaningful voice when it comes to care decisions, an Award of Merit is presented to Royal Inland Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

Sponsored by HBT

Intensive Care Unit Patient & Family Advisory Council Royal Inland Hospital, Interior Health Being admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) can be a frightening experience.

Amid all the technology, noise, lights, machines and intensive treatments to keep patients alive, the needs and experiences of patients and family members are easily overlooked.

To address this, in June 2018 Royal Inland Hospital’s ICU established a Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC), the first of its kind in the Interior Health region, with equal representation from patient partners and ICU staff to collaborate on care decisions. The model provides opportunities for patients and family members to have meaningful involvement in care decisions, one of the key foundations of person-centred care.

The council is well on its way to achieving its goals. Staff and patients/families are engaged in improving patient care

and experience, and changes to care practices recommended by the council are seen as positive and comforting to both patients and families. Achievements include implementing a customized questionnaire that goes beyond the typical questions asked after a hospital visit and improving patient/family informational materials and resources about their hospital stay.

Project Team Richard Jewitt Tracey Canuel Charlene Ross Crystal Maloney Don Garrish Jasmine Beaudin Leverne Borton Pat Owen Dr. Tim Schmidt Matt Stubbings Morag Green Rob Finch

TOP INNOVATION AWARD OF MERIT

For ensuring the safety and well-being of patients by preparing staff with tools to manage emergency events, the Northern Health Emergency Relocation and Receiving Guide project is awarded the Award of Merit for Top Innovation.

Sponsored by Boyden

Emergency Relocation & Receiving Guidelines Project Northern Health How do you relocate a health care facility in an emergency? How do you evacuate patients from one community to another?

The wildfires in 2017 prompted the Health Emergency Network team from Northern Health to look for answers to these questions. In 2017, Northern Health was forced into crisis mode to deal with the surge of wildfire evacuees from BC’s central interior. A critical issue identified was that health care facilities had no standardized processes for relocating an entire facility and no standardized processes to receive patients and residents evacuated from a facility in another community.

Northern Health services a diverse population of residents in mostly rural and remote communities spread across an area the size of France! With a territory this vast and the population so diverse, it was critical to put a plan in place to be prepared for any future disasters.

In response to this, the team created the Northern Health Emergency Management Relocation and Receiving Guide project.

The resource is the first of its kind to be developed by a Canadian health region.

The goal is to ensure the safety and well-being of Northern Health’s patients by preparing staff and leadership with the tools to manage an emergency event that requires the relocation of patients to another facility and train staff on how to properly shut down a facility for an extended absence.

The Relocation and Receiving Guidelines Project was successfully tested and used during emergency fire incidents in 2018 and 2019. The team sees the guide as an “evergreen pathfinder” document that will be continually updated as circumstances evolve.

Project Lead Jana Hargreaves Project Team Amber Frizzi

Mary Charters Jim Fitzpatrick

WORKPLACE HEALTH INNOVATION AWARD OF MERIT For improving infection control practices in hospitals, the Investigation into the Cleaning Methods of Smartphones and Wearables from Infectious Contamination in a Patient Care Environment (I-SWIPE) project receives the Award of Merit for Workplace Health Innovation.

Sponsored by Roper Greyell

Investigation into the Cleaning Methods of Smartphones & Wearables from Infectious Contamination in a Patient Care Environment (I-SWIPE) Royal Jubilee Hospital, Island Health Smartphones and wearable technology are quickly becoming integrated into the daily routines of healthcare professionals.

While these new technologies may enhance productivity, one challenge has been the lack of cleaning and infection control standards to prevent the transfer and spread of bacteria.

In response to this, Island Health launched a study focusing on cleaning best practices for smartphones and wearable devices and developed a full hospital implementation plan in just six months.

Before this study was conducted, there were no real-world trials examining bacterial elimination on devices such as smartphones and wearable technologies in hospital settings. The absence of an approved cleaning method meant they would not be allowed at hospital bedsides, even though they may positively impact healthcare provider

communication and patient health outcomes.

The study used ultraviolet wavelength C (UV-C) to determine if it was more effective at disinfecting devices when compared with conventional forms such as the use of sanitizing wipes. The results show that UV-C does appear to be more effective and should be used to prevent bacterial growth and spread.

The findings from the study have resulted in improved cleaning and infection control standards. Even more impressive, the study was completed, submitted, accepted and published as an academic peer-reviewed publication in just three months, which is a strong indicator of the significant impact of this work.

Project Lead Dr. Sean P. Spina Project Team Stephanie Huffman Dr. Carly Webb

Sandra Dunford James Hanson Jonathan Addey

COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS AWARD OF MERIT

For working together to create a new standard of practice that is contributing to improved patient care in the ER, the Collaborative Solutions Award of Merit is awarded to Fraser Health’s Emergency Network - Model of Care.

Sponsored by Doctors of BC

Emergency Network - Model of Care Fraser Health Emergency departments in Canada face challenges with overcrowding, long wait times, patient safety and cost containment. The effectiveness of an emergency department can be measured by patient satisfaction, the quality of care and the time it takes to have an initial assessment with a physician.

In 2017, Fraser Health’s Emergency Network came together and created a comprehensive Model of Care to support improved quality care, patient and staff experience and standardization in practice across Fraser Health’s 13 Emergency Departments (ED).

The Model of Care was developed through an extensive literature search on best practices care including access to the ED, flow and throughput, and an environmental scan of current practices in Fraser Health and across BC and Canada.

The new model championed change by shifting away from a traditional top-down approach to a grassroots approach, bringing together frontline staff and clinical leaders. This culture shift resulted in more timely care for patients, decreased wait times, less overcrowding and improved patient safety. The success of the ED Model of Care has encouraged other health authorities across the province and in Alberta to consider adopting similar models.

Project Lead Sheila Finamore Project Team Dr. Neil Barclay Mary Van Osch Jennifer McDuff Christopher MacGregor

HEALTH CARE HERO AWARD OF MERIT For tremendous contributions in improving surgical patients’ care in Fraser Health and for inspiring and empowering future generations of anesthesiologist to carry on his innovative approaches, Dr. Richard Merchant is awarded this year’s Health Care Hero Award of Merit.

Sponsored by Pacific Blue Cross

Dr. Richard Merchant Royal Columbian Hospital, Fraser Health Dr. Richard Merchant is an anesthesiologist, whose contributions as both a change agent and best practice innovator at Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH) for almost three decades has made him legendary. Most recently, Dr. Merchant was a key player in the development of Royal Columbia Hospital’s Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) protocol.

Since joining RCH in 1991, Dr. Merchant helped set up the cardiac surgery program, and served as department coordinator for cardiac anesthesia, as well as department coordinator for research and for resident training.

In 1994, he helped pioneer the Rapid Surgical Recovery protocol for cardiac surgery, a model of peri-operative patient care designed to return patients rapidly to their baseline health, which later became known as the ERAS protocol.

This initiative decreased the length of stay for patients by 50 per cent from eight days down to four, reducing the rate of complications and improving health

outcomes while increasing satisfaction.

Dr. Merchant continues to co-lead the ERAS work, using it for other surgery specialities, influencing improvements in the hospital’s quality improvement data and serving as a Fraser Health medical representative to the provincial ERAS working group.

In his drive to make a real difference for patients and the health care system, Dr. Merchant has been a primary investigator for nine research studies and has helped author more than 40 research publications and commentaries on best practices in peri-operative surgical care and anesthesiology.

Outside the hospital, he has taken on a key role in education and professional development. He is a clinical professor of anesthesiology, pharmacology and therapeutics at UBC, served 15 years on the executive of the B.C. Anesthesiologists’ Society and has been an active member of the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society since 1983.

HEALTH CARE HERO AWARD OF MERIT For a never-ending commitment to improving the quality of patient care and making hospices a better place for end-oflife patients to live out the rest of their days, Suzanne Lehbauer has been honoured with this year’s Health Care Hero Award of Merit.

Sponsored by Pacific Blue Cross

Suzanne Lehbauer, Executive Director Castlegar Hospice Society, Interior Health As Executive Director of the Castlegar Hospice Society, Suzanne Lehbauer has played a critical part in the success of the hospice’s ground-breaking virtual reality (VR) program, which is attracting international attention.

The program grants requests or wishes that hospice patients who may be physically unfit or weak to travel might have through a virtual reality format.

Another function of the VR program is to allow patients to virtually visit their homes or gardens, or attend family events such as weddings that they may not otherwise be able to experience, resulting in precious memories and improved quality of life. With international recognition of the program, Suzanne has created a toolkit to help other hospices bring in the new technology and offer virtual wish-granting services to their patients.

The Castlegar Hospice Society is a non-profit organization that receives about 20 per cent of its budget from Interior Health, but relies primarily on funding from grants, awards and fundraising. Suzanne’s tireless dedication to organizing fundraising events and raising the profile of the hospice allows it to continue providing its much-needed services. One such fundraising event is the annual fashion show. Under Suzanne’s direction, the event is now a major annual community event, selling out each year with many corporate sponsors interested in seeking out collaboration opportunities.

Suzanne goes above and beyond in all she does, whether it is developing and administering services such as one-toone palliative support for clients and families, hospice respite and family services, grief and bereavement support, professional hospice training or hosting community workshops.

OUTSTANDING HEALTH CARE VOLUNTEER AWARD OF MERIT For his commitment to enhancing the quality of care by mentoring other volunteers and helping to shape future health care professionals, Doug Morris has been honoured with this year’s Outstanding Health Care Volunteer Award of Merit.

Sponsored by George & Bell Consulting

Doug Morris, Leadership Volunteer, Medical Imaging Victoria General Hospital, Island Health Doug Morris has a smile for everyone who enters Victoria General Hospital’s Medical Imaging department, and his smile is infectious. As a leadership volunteer, Doug has trained and mentored newcomers to the Medical Imaging Volunteer Program, and has also introduced dozens of aspiring health care professionals to their chosen fields. That’s because the majority of volunteers he trains are completing required volunteer hours as part of entry into the radiology and sonography programs. Most are accepted into their chosen medical fields, so the turnover rate of volunteers can be quite high, and Doug helps to ensure that values such as compassion, courtesy and respect are instilled early on in these future health care professionals.

Doug is a retired military personnel who wanted to use his new-found time to engage with the community and help others. Volunteering was a natural step in that direction.

According to fellow volunteers and health care staff, Doug embodies two key traits—compassion and empathy—that have helped him to have a profound impact on volunteers, patients and staff.

One staff member offered the following testimonial: “Doug is an excellent example of what a volunteer stands for. He is kind and helpful to patients and staff alike. He treats everyone with respect and is always ready to lend a hand. Suffice to say that our job would be more difficult without Doug in the picture!

We miss him when he is not here!”

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board Chair Betsy Gibbons Affiliated Care Provider representative Joseph McQuaid: Executive Director, Alberni-Clayoquot Continuing Care Society Denominational Health Care Provider representative Erroll Hastings: Executive Director, Zion Park Manor Fraser Health Authority representative Dr. Victoria Lee: President & CEO Government representative Mark Armitage: Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Sector Workforce and Beneficiary Services Division, Ministry of Health Interior Health Authority representative Susan Brown: President & CEO Island Health Authority representative Kathy MacNeil: President & CEO Northern Health Authority representative Cathy Ulrich: President & CEO Proprietary Care Provider representative Kathy Nduwayo: Executive Director, Cerwydden Care Centre Provincial Health Services Authority representative Vacant: President & CEO Public Sector Employers’ Council Secretariat John Davison: President & CEO Vancouver Coastal Health Authority representative Vivian Eliopoulos: President & CEO

ABOUT HEABC

The Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC) coordinates the human resource and labour relations interests of more than 218 publicly funded health care employers in British Columbia. HEABC represents denominational, proprietary and affiliate health employers, as well as the province’s six health authorities.

HEABC is the accredited bargaining agent for most publicly funded health employers in the province negotiating six major provincial agreements covering more than 138,000 unionized health care employees consisting of nurses, health science professionals, physician residents, and support workers in both facilities and community settings. In addition, HEABC’s Physician Services team oversees and coordinates the negotiation of provincial and local physician contracts, including the Physician Master Agreement.

HEABC takes a provincial leadership role in strategic planning related to human resources and labour relations issues for BC’s publicly funded health employers.

Through collective bargaining and other industry initiatives, HEABC endeavours to build constructive and collaborative relationships with members, government, employees, and unions, while continuing to adapt to the evolving needs of its membership.

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