The Ministry of Health has selected a supervisor that will oversee governance issues at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
Rob Devitt recently served as president and CEO of the Toronto East General Hospital, Peterborough Regional Health Centre and Queensway-Carleton Hospital. He also has hospital supervisor experience with the Scarborough Hospital.
"Part of what I'm going to be doing in the next week or so is meeting with each of the chairs individually," Devitt tells BlackburnNews.com. "I've already started meeting with the staff. I must say everyone has been very cooperative and willing to talk."
The appointment comes following a probe into the CKHA boards by the Ministry of Health. Ministry Investigator Bonnie Adamson recommended a supervisor be hired to address "irreconcilable differences" between the Sydenham District, General, and St. Joseph's hospital boards.
The three boards haven't formally met since March 31, 2016. The CKHA is also running without an approved budget.
"One of the things I've asked for is an analysis of where we're at year-to-date against those numbers, and how that compares over the last five years. That's been part of my due diligence today," says Devitt.
Devitt holds a Master's Degree in Health Administration from the University of Ottawa. While he holds power over the three hospital boards, Devitt adds rehabilitating the governance situation will be a group effort.
"The role of the supervisor isn't to come here with all the answers," says Devitt. "I think, to do that, would do a great injustice to the people here. I think the key thing is to work with people in the community to figure out what the right answers are."
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