Planning, morale problems tainted new Comox Valley Hospital
Questionable decisions and compromises made during the process to plan the new Comox Valley Hospital have created operational inefficiencies that, when combined with a dramatic change in management culture, caused a serious decline in staff morale. But during a two-month investigation, involving nearly two dozen interviews, Decafnation has learned of concerns about insufficient staffing, patient over-capacity, diminished laboratory services and other operation problems that have raised quetions about whether the facility is sufficient to service a growing and aging Comox Valley population for very long.
Fully fund N.I. health care, hold VIHA accountable
The independent analysis of the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA, or Island Health) delivered by external consultants Ernst & Young two weeks ago concluded that an electronic health records system implemented at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) was “not properly planned or implemented.”
Lagging seniors health care affects CVH, distressed caregivers
With the Island's largest over-65 population percentage and one of the lowest number of residential care beds per capita, Comox Valley caregivers are in distress and hospital workers feel the brunt of overcapacity and understaffing. VIHA says more beds and support...
VIHA brought changes, not always an improvement
For long-time employees of St. Joseph’s General Hospital, the transition to the new Comox Valley Hospital has presented a triad of difficult changes, including a less flexible management style and some systems that are less efficient and effective.
Flawed planning at root of new hospital’s problems
Already overcapacity, Comox Valley Hospital planners overlooked whole departments and made assumptions on capacity and the new iHealth software that have worsened the bed shortage and added to worker stress, overtime and low morale. This is the second in a...
A DECAF report: Growing pains or systemic problems at new CV hospital?
The accumulation of problems at the new Comox Valley Hospital has created a staff morale problem. But which are growing pains or resistance to change, which are systemic and what needs to be done? The first in a series of articles.