Annual Performance Report 2015-2016

On September 27, 2016, Eastern Health held its Annual General Meeting showcasing its performance for the fiscal year, 2015-16. While some challenges remain, Eastern Health is very pleased with its many accomplishments and contributions made toward the organization’s vision of Healthy People, Healthy Communities.

Together We Can

The 2015-16 fiscal year marked the completion of year two of Eastern Health’s Strategic Plan 2014-17, Together We Can. During the meeting, presentations were made by Frank Ryan, Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees, and David Diamond, President and CEO.

• Speaking notes – Emcee, Frank Ryan, Vice-Chair of Eastern Health’s Board of Trustees;
• Speaking notes – Eastern Health President and CEO; David Diamond
• Annual Performance Report 2015-16 (PDF, print-friendly); and
• Annual Performance Report 2015-16 (ISSUU, read friendly) 

2015-16 Highlights and Accomplishments

On September 27, 2016, Eastern Health held its Annual General Meeting showcasing its performance for the fiscal year, 2015-16. While some challenges remain, Eastern Health is very pleased with its many accomplishments and contributions made toward the organization’s vision of Healthy People, Healthy Communities.

Quality and Safety:
Eastern Health has:

• implemented its Safety Culture Strategy, Safer Together which links all aspects of safety, including patient safety, employee health and safety, as well as safe equipment, buildings and policies;
• improved hand hygiene compliance rates by two per cent and implemented interventions to continue to support improvement in hand hygiene compliance; and
• implemented tools and processes to increase reporting of workplace “Near Miss” incidents. Identifying near miss incidents provides the opportunity to prevent future injury by putting remedial measures in place.

Access:
Eastern Health has:

• decreased:
  • alternate level of care (ALC) days as a per cent of total adult patient days. ALC refers to patients who are in hospital even though they no longer need hospital care; and
  • emergency room wait times for time to physician initial assessment. Approximately 88 per cent of patients across the Eastern Health region were seen within three hours during 2015-16, with most departments achieving 90 per cent or greater.
• implemented a pilot project as part of its Home First Strategy that allows for earlier discharge from hospital with enhanced home supports; and
• implemented numerous process improvements to enhance access to health care. For example, we opened 30 additional long-term care beds in Pleasant View Towers and at Chancellor Park.

Sustainability:
Eastern Health has:

• implemented its Sick Leave Reduction Strategy which resulted in a 6.88 per cent decrease in sick leave compared to the previous fiscal year. The Sick Leave Reduction Strategy included piloting a six-month disability management program, increasing internal communication around sick leave reduction progression and more;
• implemented its Healthy Workplace Plan, which helps build a healthy and engaged workforce. For the 2015-16 fiscal year, Eastern Health provided mental health education, promoted physical health and offered conflict management skill building training; and
• improved the rate of employee engagement in its Fall 2015 survey by seven percentage points compared to the previous survey in 2012 (i.e. 33 per cent in 2015 vs. 26 per cent in 2012).

Population Health:
Eastern Health has:

• initiated a Remote Patient Monitoring pilot for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) and congestive heart failure. Early feedback on the pilot project indicates a decrease in or avoided emergency room visits and/or admissions;
• delivered 10 workshops with 82 participants and trained 11 new lay leaders to deliver curriculum as part of its chronic disease self-management workshop, Improving Health My Way; and
• completed an extensive public awareness campaign in response to an outbreak of Syphilis, including offering confidential walk-in clinics for sexual health screening and treatment.

Eastern Health thanks its thousands of dedicated, quality-driven employees, physicians and volunteers for caring tirelessly for its patients, clients and residents.