Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: February 27, 2009 4:00 PM
The Interior Eye Care Society believes Interior Health Authority’s (IHA) financial eyes are closed when it comes to funding the Lions Vision Centre in Armstrong. Thus, executive members are recommending the society’s imminent dissolution, citing what society president John Trainor calls “bureaucratic bungling” as the main reason. “We always seem to be having to kick open the door in order to throw money into the centre,” said Trainor. In a two-page release issued to North Okanagan media, and to IHA, which pays for the nursing staff at the vision centre, Trainor said the final straw came in late 2007. A request was put forward by Vernon eye physician Dr. Mathias Fellenz, who Trainor said has performed numerous surgeries at the Lions Vision Centre, for a $150,000 state-of-the-art machine used in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal disease, and diagnosing glaucoma.The Eye Care Society states it committed $90,000 to the purchase price, and felt it could raise another significant amount before payment was required.A financial plan was submitted to Interior Health, showing that the machine would provide revenue and pay for itself within five years, a plan the society said was supported by Peter DuToit, then North Okanagan administrator for IHA, and Assunta Shepherd, health services director.
According to the society, the head of the IHA’s finance department, based in Kelowna, questioned whether the Okanagan needed this machine, and the society’s request was turned down. “There’s probably a feeling at Interior Health that Kelowna is the centre of the universe, and if something’s not in Kelowna, they can’t control and keep an eye on it, then they don’t want it,” said Trainor.
Shepherd, now acting community administrator for North Okanagan after DuToit transferred to other IHA duties, said there’s a process everyone in Interior Health is required to follow when it comes to capital purchases. “When we were requested to look at capital projects, the dollars for that year had already been assigned, and the wish list already decided upon,” said Shepherd. “Their number one choice on the list was their laser machine, which did get purchased. The laser was the number one choice as it was the only piece of equipment that had outlived its life expectancy.” Dr. Fellenz, according to Trainor, purchased the $150,000 machine for his practice in Vernon after IHA turned down the request to have the machine bought for the vision centre.
The society states it has a “very real fear” that IHA is doing a behind-the-doors closure of the Lions Vision Centre. “As the numbers drop, and fewer and fewer procedures are done, they’ll probably find some reason to close it down,” said Trainor. “That’s our real concern here.” Shepherd emphatically denied the society’s claim. “That’s never been discussed,” said Shepherd about a possible closure. IHA would like to sit down and talk with the society before they put a dissolution motion forward to its members. “Hopefully we can get them convinced, but I’d rather them not dissolve,” said Shepherd. “They’ve been a great support since we put the Lions Vision Centre in Armstrong. They have made major contributions to the equipment out there.” Founded in May 2002 to enhance eye care in the North Okanagan-Shuswap, the society’s specific purpose was to provide financial help to the Lions Vision Centre, located in the Pleasant Valley Health Centre in Armstrong.
“Our idea was to have a centre of excellence for eye care in the Interior of B.C.,” said Trainor. “We have patients coming from Salmon Arm and Kamloops, some from Vernon and Kelowna, lots from Revelstoke and the Kootenays. I don’t have the exact numbers but thousands of procedures have been performed there.” The society, which has 38 members, has contribute more than $194,000 to the Lions Vision Centre, including the completion of the eye examination room, purchase of a new surgical chair, creation of a $20,000 endowment fund with the Community Foundation of the North Okanagan, and a commitment of $95,000 toward purchase of a new laser. Trainor said the society’s members will be presented with the dissolution recommendation at the group’s annual general meeting in April.
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Morning Star Editorial: IHA process lacks vision
If anyone knows the volunteer members of the Interior Eye Care Society, they are a dedicated bunch, not prone to exaggerating or making wild accusations. That’s why their concerns about the Interior Health Authority and its purchasing policy at the Lions Vision Centre in Armstrong should not only be considered legitimate, but also serious. If the society is taken at its word, some IHA officials fully supported the purchase of a $150,000 piece of equipment, with $90,000 coming from the society itself. But when it came down to the budgeting process, another part of IHA said no, reinforcing the view that one hand of the agency doesn’t know what the other is doing. The situation is so frustrating that the society’s executive is recommending to its members that the organization be dissolved. And that would be unfortunate as the society has raised more than $194,000 directly for equipment and other services at the vision centre, which serves patients from throughout the Interior.
If the society ceases to exist, where will IHA get the funding that it was just handed by volunteers and the community? Don’t expect the Ministry of Health just to increase the budget, so what will this mean for the viability of the centre and its patients? Ultimately, IHA had a good thing going in Armstrong — a tireless group of volunteers committed to improving health care and raising money the government doesn’t provide. But, unfortunately, the bureaucrats at IHA clearly haven’t been able to see that.
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Blaming bureaucrats
Web posted on Friday, 27 February 2009 CHBC VIDEO
The Okanagan society helps the health system but no longer because of Interior Health.
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