Collingwood General and Marine Hospital removing council seats from board

Collingwood General and Marine Hospital will soon remove municipal representatives from the hospital board in favour of board members selected for their skills and experience.

According to the press release, the board is following “best practice around the province.” Currently a member of council from five municipalities including Collingwood, Clearview Township, Grey Highlands, The Blue Mountains, and Wasaga Beach sits on the board, but they will not have a spot there effective July 12.

The five municipalities met with the hospital on Feb. 15 to talk about the change and to change the current Mayor’s Forum into a Municipal Forum where information will be shared between the hospital and the municipalities it serves.

According to the press release, further details are currently being refined as to the frequency of meetings and the Terms of Reference, and should be in place over the next couple of months.

CollingwoodToday reached out to Norah Holder, president and CEO of Collingwood General and Marine Hospital for a Q&A on the change. Here’s what she had to say:

CollingwoodToday: Why is the G&M Hospital moving away from municipal council reps on the hospital board?

Norah Holder: Following Ontario Hospital Association Governance best practice pertaining to skills based Boards that has been adopted provincially, Collingwood General and Marine Hospital is moving away from having municipal representatives on the Board of Trustees effective July 12, 2018.

CollingwoodToday: In what ways does it serve the hospital and the communities better to have a board entirely selected vs. elected?

Norah Holder: Board members will be replaced by individuals from across the region selected on the basis of the specific skills and experience the Board requires to move forward the hospital’s strategic directions, mission, vision, values and local, regional and provincial health system transformation.

CollingwoodToday: What were some of the challenges the hospital board faced by having municipal council members in seats?

Norah Holder: Municipal council members brought great value to the hospital board for many years. The change to a skills-based board selection process is a result of considerable consultation with our municipalities and agreement that this is indeed best practice and will enhance board performance.

CollingwoodToday: What sort of information will be shared at the municipal forum?

Norah Holder: The municipal forum was formed in 2015 as a platform to consult with and engage all of the municipalities we serve in our redevelopment process. In the past three years all municipalities have found this to be of great value. It is now a natural time to expand the discussion related to healthcare in South Georgian Bay at the municipal forum. The municipal forum will provide a valued opportunity for the hospital and municipalities to engage in two-way communications. It is an information exchange opportunity for all municipalities and hospital on matters related to CGMH’s role in patient care in the South Georgian Bay Region. It is a great opportunity for all municipalities to advocate for local hospital based health care services.

CollingwoodToday: What avenues remain for municipal councils to advocate for local healthcare needs?

Norah Holder: Through the municipal forum, at the County Council level (example is the commitment of Simcoe County Council to provide $20 million to CGMH hospital redevelopment over the next 15 years), the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, relevant North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network forums and processes are great examples.