Hospital Laundry Service Contracted Out

Posted on 3/1/2016 by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
Interior Health has decided to contract out laundry services. The agency's board has announced a 20-year agreement with Ecotex Healthcare Linen Service to provide the majority of linen and laundry services through a centralized Kelowna-based facility, supported by regional distribution centres. "Ecotex is an experienced British Columbia based laundry service company and has provided laundry and laundry services for Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health, Provincial Health Services, and Providence Health Care among other clients," says an Interior Health news release. Board chair Erwin Malzer says a clear case exists to proceed with outsourcing laundry services at their major facilities, which he says will produce a savings of about $35 million over the life of the contract. He says I-H will be able to increase investment in facilities and equipment to support direct patient care. The Hospital Employees Union has opposed privatizing the services, claiming it will cost 175 jobs including 17 for the staff who provide the service at Vernon Jubilee Hospital. I-H says the following sites where laundry services are currently provided will be affected: Kelowna General Hospital, Kootenay Lake Hospital in Nelson, Penticton Regional Hospital, Vernon Jubilee Hospital, and Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. "A total of 93 full-time equivalent positions will be impacted by the decision. Interior Health will work closely with the affected employees and the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) to ensure a smooth transition of the service to Ecotex by Summer 2017," says an Interior Health news release.

Council donates funds

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Feb 28, 2016 at 1:00 AM
A Coldstream politician isn’t thrilled with taxpayers providing a donation to a local organization. Council has decided the district’s $55,000 share of the surplus from the disbandment of the North Okanagan Hospital District be given to the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation. “When you take money from the taxpayer and you get some of it back, they (taxpayer) should enjoy the benefit,” said Coun. Gyula Kiss, who was the only member of council to raise his hand in opposition. “The donation should be done by individual residents,” he said. Mayor Jim Garlick defends the decision to provide the money to the foundation. “The hospital is something we all use,” he said. “This money is surplus from a defunct service so to use it for medical equipment is important.”
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Don Quixote Note:
How Vernon distributed their same refund:
http://vernonblog.blogspot.ca/2016/01/funds-returned-to-ease-tax-load.html

Original Announcement of return of disbandment of the North Okanagan Hospital District Surplus to each jurisdiction.:

Based on the 2015 BC Assessment Revised Roll, the surplus will be apportioned approximately:

Armstrong ... 19,500 Coldstream ...... 55,600 Enderby ...... 1 0,100 Lumby ....... 7,400 Spallumcheen .. 25,100 Vernon … 232,500  Electoral Area B .. 24,200 Electoral Area C .... 25,900 Electoral Area D ..... 10,400 Electoral Area E .... 2,900 Electoral Area F ... 22,400 

Proposed tax hike in Coldstream

by Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star posted Feb 17, 2016 at 1:00 AM
Coldstream is investing in the future with a proposed 3.5 per cent tax increase for 2016. Preliminary budget discussions Monday revealed Coldstream is planning on putting some funds into reserves by raising taxes and is also interested in supporting health care. “The increase will go toward the road reserve (pavement management plan) bringing it to an annual level of $1 million a year, the building reserve to ensure that the district’s buildings are adequately maintained, the drainage reserve in order to address more drainage issues throughout Coldstream and operations increases and possible enhancements,” said Mayor Jim Garlick. Proposed capital projects for 2016 include phasing of the Coldstream Creek Road bike path and parks irrigation software. The finance committee (council) also recommended that the district’s share of the surplus from the disbandment of the North Okanagan Hospital District, amounting to $55,000, be given to the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation, which supports health care in the North Okanagan. “Health care was the original intent that this money was taxed for. This contribution is therefore seen as appropriate,” said Garlick. “We are sure the foundation will make good use of these funds.” Part of the budget could also include $20,000 to determine the feasibility of constructing a dike across the mouth of Kalavista lagoon and dredging the lagoon.

When politicians give you cash back, don't complain

January 29, 2016 - 8:30 AM By Charlotte Helston Info-Tel.Ca
It’s not uncommon to hear people grumble about rising taxes, but have you ever heard someone complain about getting a few bucks knocked off their bill? I sure hadn’t until recently. Last week, the City of Vernon sent out a press release saying it was returning $232,734 from a hospital levy back to taxpayers. An offset of funds due to the dissolution of the Columbia Shuswap Regional Hospital District left the city with the surplus. During budget discussions, council voted to give the money back to taxpayers — a return of about $8.57 for the average home. Now, I thought our story ‘City returns cash to Vernon taxpayers’ would earn rave reviews from readers. Who doesn’t like a few extra bucks, even if it is just the price of a new T-shirt? And perhaps some were happy, but others took to social media disappointed with council’s decision. Many argued the money should be given to the hospital — not taxpayers. Readers, I underestimated your generosity. But I would like to point out the alternative. Say the city decided that instead of giving that money back to taxpayers, it was going to donate it to the hospital. If people knew council had the option of giving it back and didn’t, how would that go over? One city councillor tells me taxpayers were the source of the money, which is why they decided to return it to them. I’m not sure the city had much of a choice in the end, but taxpayers do. You could take that $8.57 and donate it to the hospital yourself. Heck, you could probably convince a few friends to do it too. Light a few bulbs for the Vernon Jubilee Hospital campaign. Or convert it to pocket change and keep it handy for plugging those pesky downtown parking meters everyone’s always complaining about. What about using it to hire a young fellow to shovel out the snowy sidewalk by your house, or putting it towards the next borrowing referendum? There’s always something to complain about — and City Hall will never please everyone — but hey, at least this time you have the final say about how how those funds are used. So, how will you spend it?

Funds returned to ease tax load

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Jan 15, 2016 at 1:00 AM
Vernon taxpayers could get some cash back in their pocket. The city will receive $232,734 from the dissolution of the former North Okanagan Regional Hospital District and council has directed staff to return that to residents by reducing the city’s 2016 tax requisition. “It belongs to the taxpayer. That’s where it came from,” said Coun. Bob Spiers, who lobbied to have the money given back to residents instead of putting it into general revenue. The return of the funds will be detailed in the 2016 tax notices.
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Actual Resolution passed unanimously:
THAT Council directs Administration to apply Vernon’s share ($232,734.64) of proceeds arising through dissolution of the North Okanagan Regional Hospital District to the 2016 tax requisition for the North Okanagan/Columbia Shuswap Regional Hospital District, effectively returning the proceeds ($232,734.64) in their entirety to the current property taxpayer by reducing the 2016 tax requisition payable;
AND FURTHER, that Council direct the Administration to note the return of the proceeds to the property taxpayer on
the 2016 tax notice or supplementary information included with the 2016 tax notice.
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Affordable housing supported
The City of Vernon is handing out a number of grants for affordable housing projects. The Vernon Native Housing Society will receive a rental housing grant of $31,346 to offset development cost charges for its 10-unit project on Alexis Park Drive. There will also be a $15,244 rental housing grant to the Schubert Centre Society to offset DCCs for three rental units on 35th Street. N&T Properties will receive a rental housing grant of $129,000 for a mixed-use complex, including 86 residential units, on 48th Avenue. There is also a $63,000 rental housing grant for Belmonte Apartments and Rickford Apartments for proposed 42 residents units on 27th Avenue.

More beds open next year

by Darren Handschuh CASTANET - Jul 28, 2015 / 5:00 am
The completion of two floors in Vernon Jubilee Hospital's Polson Tower are on time and should be fully operational next year. That from Interior Health board chairman Erwin Malzer who stopped by the largest hospital in the North Okanagan while touring region Monday. Malzer said adding the two floors will be good for patients, doctors and nurses. It will add almost 20 new beds to the hospital that is often running at capacity. Malzer pointed out it is a “massive job” getting the two floors ready and once the staff and gear is in place patients will be moved in to the semi-private rooms that feature state-of-the-art medical equipment. Currently, VJH has 165 beds. Once the two floors are finished, patients will have access to 182 beds. The top two floors of the tower that was built several years ago will remain empty for now. And the hospital is not the only area that is expanding.

IH will be adding 155 residential care beds, and 85 of those will be in Vernon. Malzer could not say when construction on the new facility will begin, but there have been “multiple bids” on the contract. While in Vernon, Malzer toured the old part of the hospital and said he is aware of the present challenges, but added IH has to ration its capital as much as it can. “You can't change it over night,” he said. Malzer will continue his tour of area medical facilities when he visits Salmon Arm Tuesday.

VJH Bed Project Starts

Written by 107.5 Kiss FM Wednesday, 04 June 2014 12:15

Work on the top two floors of Vernon Jubilee Hospital (VJH) has begun and Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster joined Interior Health representatives, community members and hospital staff there today to help kick off construction. "This project is special to me. Just two years ago we announced funding to begin detailed planning to add beds in Polson Tower," said Foster. "We are excited to be here today as the new inpatient units begin to take shape, and proud to be following up on our commitment." As the ongoing consultation to finalize the design continues, contractors are on site to prepare for construction to start. "The benefits to the community are great," said Interior Health Board Chair Norman Embree. "This project will improve the environment for patients and working conditions for our nurses, physicians and support staff." Stuart Olson Dominion Construction Ltd., with Parkin Architects, was selected as the design builder from a shortlist of proponents that were qualified to respond to the Request for Proposals, which was released in September. The contract is for the final design and construction of two 30-bed inpatient units in the roughed-in shelled space on the sixth and seventh floors of the Polson Tower. Of the 60 beds planned for the units, 14 will be new and the remaining 46 will be relocated from existing older units in the hospital. The project cost of $29.6 million is being shared between Interior Health, the North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap Regional Hospital District (NOCSRHD) and the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation. "It is great to see construction underway. This project will provide a modern inpatient ward with appropriate infection control and patient care areas without congested overflow, and will improve the ability to attract and retain staff," said NOCSRHD Chair Rhona Martin. The majority of the 60 beds will be in private rooms complete with their own washrooms. Units will be furnished with new equipment through the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation's ongoing Tower of Care campaign. It is anticipated that construction will be complete in late fall 2015.

Hospital audit has revealing results

By Editorial - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 28, 2013 1:00 AM
An internal audit of eight Interior hospitals, including Vernon, certainly generates some cause for concern.  Among the breaches the auditors discovered were unattended medication carts, patient ID bands not being checked before drugs were administered and medication poured into cups that were not labelled. In all of these cases, there are potential negative consequences for patients. The Interior Health Authority  deserves praise as 12 audit recommendations for improvement have been completed or are in the process of being initiated. That quick action is reassuring for anyone who may find  themselves admitted in hospital. However, there is always room for improvement, particularly since auditors only found 56 per cent compliance with standard practices and policy at the eight hospitals. For Vernon Jubilee Hospital, there was a compliance rate of 60 per cent, among the highest in the region. Among the apparent factors for staff’s non-adherence are workload stress, interruptions and aging and failing equipment.  On top of this, the B.C. Nurses Union cites a lack of staff and more sick patients as reasons why compliance levels are low. Heather Cook, IHA chief nursing officer, says it’s challenging to quantify if the newly initiated measures have reduced patient risk, and that is fair given the fact there is always an element of risk when medication is involved. But IHA and its medical professionals need to be as open and transparent as possible about their procedures and changes being made. After all, it is only through communication that patients can feel confident about the care they are receiving.
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Interior Health Medication Management Audit by Joe Fries
By Joe Fries - Penticton Western News Updated: July 23, 2013 4:04 PM 

Audit turns up problems at Okanagan hospitals

 Interior Health Medication Management Audit by Joe Fries

By Joe Fries - Penticton Western News Updated: July 23, 2013 4:04 PM
Years after a woman died as a result of a medication mix-up at an Okanagan hospital, an Interior Health Authority audit found there still exists a “moderate to high risk” to patients at its facilities. Brenda Gaida, 40, was admitted to Vernon Jubilee Hospital in July 2007 for treatment of a skin condition for which she received a drug called methotrexate. Her health deteriorated and she died three months later at an Alberta hospital.  Her family claimed the cause of death was “methotrexate brain toxicity” due to excessive doses she received at VJH, according to a B.C. Supreme Court ruling issued this month, which confirmed a $440,000 judgment against Interior Health, the hospital and four doctors. The defendants admitted the drug was mistakenly given to Gaida daily rather than weekly. Issues with medication management arise frequently. In 2011 alone, Interior Health reported 5,306 “medication related events” to a provincial database that tracks adverse events, near-misses and hazards, according to an internal audit report completed Dec. 24, 2012, and obtained by the Western News through a freedom of information request. Auditors assessed eight of the region’s largest acute care sites and found just 56 per cent compliance with “standard practices and policy,” and identified “multiple opportunities for substantial improvement,” according to the report. “In Internal Audit’s opinion, there exists a moderate to high risk of significant patient harm associated with the current medication management practices as observed in selected medical surgical inpatient units.” (more)

Shortlist For New VJH Beds Down To Two

Written by Glen Morrison 107.5 KISSFM Friday, 28 June 2013 11:33 
Interior Health says the two additional floors at Jubilee Hospital should be in service by the summer of 2015. They've shortlisted two teams for the next stage of the selection process to complete floors six and seven in the Polson Tower. The two teams are Graham Design-Builders LP and Stuart Olson Dominion Construction. "Every milestone in this project is important. Our community is pleased to see this process moving along, as we look forward to expanded care for patients and their families," says Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster.

The next step in the process is the release of the request for proposals to the two teams. The "winner" will be selected following an evaluation of responses. Interior Health expects to select a team and have construction start by the end of the year. "It is anticipated the two floors will open in summer 2015," states a news release from Interior Health. The project cost of $29.6 million is being shared between the province, the North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap Regional Hospital District, and the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation.

Hospital Upgrade Gets Regional Support

Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM Tuesday, 26 March 2013 15:05
  It was seen as the final stumbling block toward a bed upgrade at Vernon Jubilee Hospital moving forward.  The North Okanagan-Columbia-Shuswap Regional Hospital District board has approved 5.5 million dollars to add 60 beds in the Polson Tower, 14 new, and 46 from elsewhere in the hospital. The BC government will provide 24.3 million of the cost under the agreement. Board vice chair Patrick Nicol says it was a unanimous decision. "The total tax requisition is increased by 13.8%. That's the impact on the area taxpayer," Nicol tells Kiss FM. Nicol says taxpayers have made a huge investment in the facility the last few years including the new tower, and the shelled-in floors. "The total cost of that project with the three different bylaws that will all go through over the two or three years, is 217 million dollars." The VJH Hospital Foundation has also said it can raise $2.5 million for the project, in a three to four year fundraising campaign. Construction is expected to start late this year, with completion of the new beds in 2015.

Process begins to develop Vernon Jubilee Hospital floors

By Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star Published: March 05, 2013 6:00 PM

The process to complete the two upper floors at Vernon Jubilee Hospital is underway.  The Ministry of Health has released a request  for qualifications so contractors can indicate their interest and qualifications to design and develop the two floors in the Polson tower. The applicants will then be short-listed and invited to respond to a request for proposals. "We're moving forward on our commitment to improving capacity at VJH with the release of the RFQ," said Margaret MacDiarmid, health minister. The $29 million project will see 60 acute care beds constructed, with that including 14 new beds and the remainder coming from existing wards. The RFQ process will wrap up April 23. The Interior Health Authority expects to select a preferred proponent and begin construction by late 2013, with the two floors anticipated to be completed in the summer of 2015.

Director Questions VJH Bed Funding Plan

Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM Wednesday, 20 February 2013 06:00
  A Greater Vernon politician would like health officials to look at other ways to fund new beds at Vernon's hospital. The province is providing 22 million dollars for the 14 new beds, but expects the regional hospital district and hospital foundation to provide the other 7 million. BX-Silver Star director Mike Macnabb would like to see Interior Health find the funding from its more than billion dollar operating budget.  "If in the operating budget they could save, say for argument, $30 million, that's 30 million dollars that doesn't come out of the taxpayer's pocket." Macnabb wonders if spending 30 million for 14 new beds is a good use of taxpayers money. "Maybe there's something else that we could consider." The director for Area C of the Regional District of North Okanagan says the North Okanagan-Columbia-Shuswap Regional Hospital District board will be discussing the funding request at an upcoming meeting. Macnabb says he has no idea what the breakdown of the 7 million dollars would be between the RHD and VJH Hospital Foundation.
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See details of present debt etc at http://vernonblog.blogspot.ca/2013/02/regional-hospital-district-financial.html

Regional Hospital District Financial statements Dec. 31, 2011

North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap Regional Hospital District

https://csrd.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentDisplay.aspx?ID...   (excerpts)

http://vernonblog.blogspot.ca/2011/08/regional-hospital-district-financial.html 

BEYOND THE HEADLINES: Funding falls short

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: February 13, 2013 1:00 AM
One shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth, but some residents may wonder what all of the fuss was about at Vernon Jubilee Hospital.  Last week, Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid announced a $29.6 million project to convert two shelled-in floors into acute care wards. Once completed in mid-2015, the wards will consist of 60 beds, taking the total number of beds at the hospital from 148 to 162. But of course, the devil is in the details. Of those 60 beds, 46 of them already exist and will be transferred over from the old part of the hospital. That means there is only a net gain of 14 beds, and I have heard some people question if that is a suitable government response to overcrowding and the years of lobbying that galvanized North Okanagan residents. And that’s fair commentary when you consider conditions in recent years. In December 2011, doctors stated the number of patients daily has been between 160 and 179, or eight to 20 per cent over-capacity. Jump ahead to November 2012, and admitted patients on one day reached 193. On Feb. 8, a day after MacDiarmid’s visit, there were 194 patients — a record-breaker. MacDiarmid was all smiles as she announced the 60 beds. “Finishing  the top two floors will greatly improve capacity at the Vernon Jubilee  Hospital, while also increasing patient comfort, privacy and safety,” she said. According to the Interior Health Authority, the census ranges from 160 to 190 patients daily, and that’s not unexpected given winter ailments like flu and weather-related injuries like falling on the ice. That means that once the two floors are completed and the 60 new or relocated beds are opened, there will be two more than the minimum average admitted patients. Does that mean that even with the 14 new beds, there will still be patients in hallways? Will people continue to have surgeries cancelled because everything is full? Government officials will of course say that some beds will be freed up by residential care patients moving into the community. That may be true but will that be sufficient to make up for a growing and aging population” Physicians who pushed hard for more acute care beds have praised MacDiarmid’s announcement, but they may be simply accepting the reality that this was the best Victoria had to offer. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Even with a $29 million investment, though, some disappointment exists. There are four operating rooms while there’s space for seven. I have been told that at least one more is required immediately just to handle emergencies and a second OR would be ideal to alleviate the waitlist. There wasn’t a single mention of operating rooms by MacDiarmid, and she also didn’t touch on the lack of a magnetic resonance imaging machine (MRI). Obviously the government can’t do everything as it faces significant financial demands — Penticton is now calling for a health care tower. It should also be pointed out that Vernon has seen millions of dollars pumped into health care in the last few years. That said, it appears that planning for the two floors is running tight and some long-term needs are going unaddressed. Ultimately, North Okanagan residents will be left asking if they got the best bang for their tax dollars, particularly if the 60 beds are unveiled in 2015 and hallway stretchers are required.

Casual Fridays benefit hospital

By Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star Published: December 28, 2012 1:00 AM

City of Vernon employees are rallying behind people who are facing cancer head-on. Staff has donated $2,500 to the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation as part of dressing casual Fridays. “The 2012 Casual for a Cause fundraising efforts were directed towards the renovations and expansion of the McMurty-Baerg Cancer Centre,” said Courtenay Pitcher, the city’s communications officer. “Employees support causes that benefit local residents.” Renovation and expansion of the cancer centre will cost $500,000 and it’s being funded entirely by donations. “There was no public funding available to expand and renovate the cancer centre,” said Sue Beaudry, VJH Foundation director of development. “The foundation agreed to raise the funds necessary for the project to go ahead. It’s a wonderful gift that city employees have given to local cancer patients.” In previous years, city employees have supported B.C. Children’s Hospital, the Vernon SPCA, the Canadian Cancer Society and the North Okanagan Hospice Society.

VJH Bed Upgrade Off To Next Step

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Wednesday, 19 September 2012 19:17
The costs and number of beds still have to be finalized, but the plan to reduce overcrowding at Vernon's hospital is moving forward. Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster says a proposal compiled by VJH staff and administration has been sent to Interior Health, and then will be off to the Health Ministry.Foster tells Kiss FM, "The work here by a local group is done." As soon as it gets to the ministry, I'll be parked on the front door of the minister and we'll move it through as quickly as we can."Up to 60 beds could be added to the top two shelled-in floors of the Polson Tower, but Foster says there's no firm cost estimate."I'm always reluctant to throw numbers around before you go to tender on things because that could affect the bidding, so we certainly try to stay away from that."Foster says it's too soon to estimate if the new beds could be in use by next year, or 2014. "I don't know how long it takes to build something like that. What I want to do is get the construction started, and there will be timeline coming from that." Former Health Minister Mike de Jong announced funding for the upgrade was approved last May. Doctors and other staff have been pushing for extra acute care beds to address chronic overcrowding at the hospital.

VJH Master Plan Gets Update

Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM Tuesday, 28 August 2012 18:20
  Vernon Jubilee Hospital has been approved for an update of its master site plan.  MLA Eric Foster says with the opening of the Polson Tower last fall, and the plan for more beds in the new facility, they need to take a fresh look at how to guide future growth and direction at the facility for the next 15 years. The first update since 2006 will also look at the potential for new programs, how best to use the remaining space at the site and parking requirements. Norm Embree from Interior Health says the plan will look at needs to 2028, and make sure the facility has the right programs and services to meet population increases. The process will start with a request for proposals from consultants, to develop the site plan, with a firm chosen by late September, and the plan completed in December.

Call For Tenders Soon For Hospital Beds

Written by Glen Morrison  107.5 KISSFM Monday, 20 August 2012 15:06
  Work on adding up to 60 more beds to the top two floors of the Polson Tower at Vernon Jubilee Hospital could be coming sooner than later. MLA Eric Foster says the planning is nearly done, and he's anticipating a call for tenders in less than a month. "I would be disappointed if we weren't a lot further along than that in a month," he tells KISS FM. Foster says a cost of at least 20 million dollars is still being used as a general figure. "It's a number that's kind of thrown around. You don't know what the number is until the plans are all done and it goes out to tender, but those were sort of ball park numbers that were thrown around." Health Minister Mike de Jong made the announcement last April 27th that planning for adding capacity at the hospital was getting underway.  Interior Health officials and hospital staff are hoping the additional beds will end the ongoing issue of overcrowding.

CRITICAL CONDITION: Top dogs chew up patient care dollars

Kelowna Daily Courier Monday, 30 July 2012 02:00 Don Plant
 A Kamloops specialist went on the radio this month to complain about something that affects all of us - less money flowing into patient care.  Dr. Dennis Karpiak said our medical system is unsustainable because it's filled with a rising number of bureaucrats who are making it harder for doctors to do their jobs.   "You can walk through any hospital and find more administration offices than patient rooms. There's one administrator for every two patients," he told CKNW.  Nurses are so understaffed and overworked, they simply give out pills, Karpiak said. At the same time, hospitals have reduced their in-patient beds.   Thirty years ago, Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops had more than 300 beds. The city's population has grown by a third since then, and yet the beds have decreased to 260.  At Kelowna General, 318 beds are open to acute-care patients - a number that has barely budged, even after a major expansion to a hospital that serves twice as many city residents as it did in the 1980s. Eight vice-presidents now work for Interior Health. Nineteen administrators earn more than $150,000 a year.   More than 400 employees gross more than $100,000, and 2,400 draw more than $75,000.  It's an "overwhelming increase in bureaucracy" at the expense of patient care, Karpiak says.  "This is not Tommy Douglas's 1965 vision. Medicare was established to protect families from the consequences of ill health and to cover their doctors and hospital bills. It was not intended to be a playground for bureaucrats to spend taxpayer's money."  Many IH administrators also work as physicians, so they collect a salary on top of their fees for service. More than 17,000 of the health authority's 18,000 employees are unionized workers who earn at most $103,000 before overtime, says John Johnston, vice president of people and clinical services.(more)
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http://www.interiorhealth.ca/AboutUs/Accountability/Pages/FinancialReporting.aspx
2011 Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses 2011
2011 Executive Compensation 2011
2011 Board Remuneration 2011