Auditor General’s Report on the Yukon Hospital Corporation: a planning opportunity

For Release #13-039
February 27, 2013

Whitehorse—Health and Social Services Minister Doug Graham and Yukon Hospital Corporation chief executive officer Jason Bilsky say they accept the report from Auditor General Michael Ferguson about the performance audit on the management of the Yukon Hospital Corporation’s capital projects for two community hospitals.

“The report identifies how we can collectively improve our processes and planning,” Graham said. “We see implementing these report recommendations as an opportunity to ensure planning is based on assessment, best practices and in consideration of an integrated health and social service delivery model.

“How care and services are delivered, in the area of health and social services, is a continually and rapidly evolving field. We can learn from the experiences and successful innovations being shared by the Council of Health Ministers and other input,” Graham added. “I want to look to the future and how we can build and improve on what we have here today.”

Bilsky said the report outlines several recommendations that will further enhance the corporation’s partnership with the department.

“The Yukon Hospital Corporation will work in partnership with Health and Social Services to address the recommendations. Our facilities are an integral part of the health care delivery model in Yukon and we will make sure we collaborate fully in assessing needs and planning for service delivery,” Bilsky said.

By working with the Yukon Hospital Corporation and other stakeholders, the Health and Social Services minister said the department will develop an integrated health facility program and services model. This model will enable the design of health and social programs and services to creatively and effectively meet community-specific needs.

“I want to ensure we have a fully integrated health and social services, territorial-wide community delivery model that is accessible, high quality, cost effective, efficient and sustainable,” Graham said. “Combining programs and services is the wave of the future.

“This report, specific to the Dawson City and Watson Lake facilities, provides us with the opportunity to reexamine and integrate community needs with health and social service delivery in those communities. We want to create the vision of a client-centred delivery model so health facilities can design programs to best meet community needs,” Graham added.

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Contact:

Matthew Grant
Cabinet Communications
867-393-6470
[email protected]

Val Pike
Yukon Hospital Corporation
867-393-8784
[email protected]

Pat Living
Communications, Health & Social Services
867-667-3673
[email protected]

NT3