Prince Edward Island's Regional Health Boards recommended to the Romanow Commission today that strong governance models, integrated systems of services, clear accountability, and stable predictable funding are the key factors needed to assure the future of health care in Canada.
Southern Kings Health Board Chair Michael Gallant appeared before the Commission on behalf of all regional boards.
Mr. Gallant advised that when the Prince Edward Island health regions were established in 1994, the boards were given the responsibility to govern one of the broadest mixes of integrated health and social services in the country. "Eight years later, the voluntary governance system in Prince Edward Island is functioning very successfully, primarily as the voice and linkage of the people in the communities we serve with the health systems," he said. "However, these accomplishments were not without their challenges, and we continue to work together as a system to clarify roles and responsibilities."
He suggested that in P.E.I., there has been a considerable degree of autonomy and flexibility in decision making by the boards within the provincial policy mandate of the Department, such that health care services have been delivered to Islanders responsibly and effectively.
Along with effective board governance, Mr. Gallant said P.E.I. has been successful in establishing an effective continuum of integrated services across all sectors of the system. "Many of the previous barriers between services have been reduced or eliminated, and there is now an effective flow of information and communication among services for the improvement of care to patients, clients and residents," he said. "One of the major challenges in this area has been to ensure that legislation and policy are in place to support a team approach to integrated client centred care."
The third benefit of the regionalized structure, he said, has come about in recent years with the establishment of effective mechanisms to support province-wide planning for future growth, development of new and existing services, and program evaluation. "Our strategic plan for the system has set the direction for the future with the key principles directed at wellness, accountability and sustainability, as well as new programs for children, seniors and low-income families. The provincial plan has been followed up by the development of complementary regional strategic plans which support and augment the provincial direction," he said.
He said the limiting factor in implementing new programs has been funding, as many of the dollars available go toward sustainability of core services, and that increased federal funding targeted for transitions to improved service delivery is essential to achieve a sustainable system in the longer term. "Our health system in Prince Edward Island is slowly moving toward a wellness model with emphasis on health promotion and illness prevention, and last week the Government of Prince Edward Island took a very bold step in this direction with the restructuring of the Regions to place more emphasis on primary care redesign and community services, both in health care and social services delivery."
Mr. Gallant cautioned that wellness is a long term process, and that in the meantime the health system must continue to address the existing needs of residents through major, secondary and tertiary acute care services which are supported by the primary care delivery system inherent in each of the regions.
"As board members, we feel that the strength of the Prince Edward Island health system is in its governance and management structure working in collaboration with the Provincial Department, and that this structure should be encouraged and used Canada wide," he said, "The basic integrated services are in place, effective planning mechanisms are in use, and given a predictable, sustainable funding formula, and clear accountability from all sectors, the future of health and community services here and elsewhere in Canada would be assured."