The Alberta government eliminated the province’s nine health regions on May 15.
The David Thompson Health Authority Board members were let go at noon, as well as the members of the eight other regional health boards in Alberta.
They are being replaced by the Alberta Health Services Board that will encompass the entire province. The board will be responsible to ensure quality health care for the entire province.
Jean Graham was in her 15th year of being chairman of the DTHR board when she received a call from Health and Wellness Minister Ron Liepert shortly after 11 a.m. saying that her services were no longer required.
Graham says that she understood that alterations were coming and that the government had a reason to do this, but was not very pleased with the methods done to make those changes.
“I guess when one door closes another one will open,” said Graham. “I knew they were going to make changes, but the way they made those changes, I thought, was a little bit rude. However, the government has always had that right and I respect it. I’m not going to cause a commotion by fighting against it.”
The new board will also replace the Alberta Mental Health Board, the Alberta Cancer Board and the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission.
An interim chair and six-member board is now in place before the establishment of a permanent 15-member provincial board of directors and a chief executive officer.
None of the seven members of the new interim board are from Central Alberta.
Graham is presently neither optimistic or unhopeful of the outcome of this decision and will form her thoughts when she sees the results of the changes. She believes that things will change for the former DTHR region but that those changes probably won’t be seen right away.
“I have to reserve judgement until I see what the outcomes of the decision will be, but I don’t anticipate there being significant changes at this time,” she said.
The DTHR board had representatives from several communities in the region, including Ponoka, and as the third largest health region in Alberta. The DTHR region has a populations of 300,000 people and has more than 9,000 staff.
“The board and many staff have left a great legacy with the DTHR,”said Graham. “My earnest desire is that my staff continues to be employed and that the region will still receive the best care that we have worked hard to provide.”
The change to a single provincial board is intended to strengthen a provincial approach to managing and maintaining health services including surgical access, long-term care, chronic disease management, addictions and mental health. It is also hoped to efficiently shape the health system for patients and health care workers.
Graham enjoyed her time on the DTHR board and is pleased with all the dedication and hard work that has been put into bringing excellent health care in the region.
“I am grateful for all the people that worked in the system and the communities have been very supportive and committed,” she said. “Without them we wouldn’t have been as successful as we were.”