SENT TO ALL STAFF, MEDICAL STAFF, STUDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS ON BEHALF OF KATHY MACNEIL, PRESIDENT & CEO
Today is the start of something new for us at Island Health. I hope you had some time toreview today’s memoabout changes we are making to our executive structure, and review theorganizational chartto see how the changes will cascade down through the organization to better align, connect and support our teams to collaborate more effectively with each other to deliver excellent health and care.
我想强调的一个重要变化,和the reason today’s email is coming just from me, is the expanded role of Dr. Richard Stanwick, who has been by my side throughout our COVID-19 response. In addition to being our Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Stanwick will now have the added role of Vice President of Population Health.
It has become very clear to me in the past number of weeks – and through my entire time together with Richard at Island Health – the focus we need in this area of health and care, and the value Richard’s voice will add at our leadership table as we continue to respond to the pandemic, and beyond.
Announcement: Executive Lead, Indigenous Health
This morning I also announcedthe appointmentof Dawn Thomas as Island Health’s first-ever Executive Lead, Indigenous Health. As part of our shared commitment of improving health outcomes and embedding cultural safety and humility into our every-day practices at Island Health, Dawn will be a key member of the Island Health leadership team to help us advance our work in creating a more integrated, culturally safe and responsive health system free from racism and discrimination.
I want to thank Indigenous partners who helped guide our recruitment process for this position. I am confident we have exactly the person we need. Dawn is a member of the Snuneymuxw First Nation on Vancouver Island. Her traditional name is Aa ap waa iik, a Nuu-chah-nulth name that loosely translates to:The one who says the right words about chiefly business. She starts on Monday, and we look forward to her arrival.
communication Survey and changes to frequency of the daily update
I want to thank everyone who took the time to respond to the COVID-19 communications survey last month. We had close to 3,000 responses and carefully considered the valuable information and insight you provided. We are using the information from the survey to provide you with the information you need, when you need it and in the way you want to see and use it.
The restructuring of ourCOVID-19 intranet pagewas directly influenced by the survey results to better organize information for easier access. Respondents also shared 94% found this daily email update valuable with the most important part of the update being critical new information.
With the focus of our pandemic response evolving; we are now moving from daily updates to providing an update on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays; in addition to updates captured in the Weekly, which is distributed every Wednesday afternoon. We provide care 24/7/365, and for that reason believe a continued weekend update is important for those who are working over the weekend. Please know that if there is pressing, need-to-know information, we will share it right away. Our next update after today will be on Saturday afternoon.
Thank you for your feedback and comments. I invite you to view asnapshot of our survey results.
PROVINCIAL DAILY UPDATE
Today, Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix shared there were nine new people with confirmed COVID-19 across B.C. in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 2,558. Of those, 2,153 have fully recovered and are no longer at risk of transmitting the virus. Our province has 33 people in hospital, with six in intensive or critical care. There have been two new COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours in the Fraser Health region, for a total of 164 deaths in British Columbia.
At Island Health we have had no changes. One patient remains in hospital and there are no new additional COVID-19 confirmed cases in our population. Of the 127 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 121 people have recovered and no longer have to practice self-isolation measures and are no longer at risk of transmitting the virus.
Today, Dr. Henry released apublic health announcementand I invite you to share this with your family and friends. Dr. Henry has provided us a calm, steady voice as we have moved through the pandemic and continues to provide the guidance as we restart B.C.
Read Minister Dix and Dr. Henry’sjoint statementandtranscript.
Reminder: This is the last week to complete theCOVID-19 survey: Your story, our future.The survey is open until May 31 and will provide important data for public health as we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CONCLUSION
Over过去数周,我们一直在庆祝and high-lighting the incredible health-care workers on the front lines supporting and delivering health-care.
Today, we are going to end the day with atribute to Dr. Henryfrom our very own Dr. Bruce Campana – an emergency department physician from Victoria General Hospital. Bruce and his family created atribute songtothank Dr. Henry.
Thank you Bruce and family for sharing your appreciation, and your incredible sense of humour! Campana family get-togethers must be something to behold.
~ Kathy
Stay informed:
- Visit Island Health's ‘source of truth,’COVID-19 webpageon the Intranet.
- TheMedical Staff websitehas specific information for medical staff.
- Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC have resourceshere.
- We are also posting information for the public atislandhealth.ca/covid19and through our social media channels. We encourage you to follow/retweet/share BCCDC’s and Island Health’s posts.