Wednesday, July 11, 2012
North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network Says 'Farewell’ to CEO
North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network Board Chair Robert Morton today announced the resignation of Bernie Blais as Chief Executive Officer effective August 31, 2012.
Mr. Blais has been appointed as the new president and CEO for Bruyère Continuing Care in Ottawa, ON. Bruyère provides complex continuing care, palliative care, rehabilitation, care of the elderly, long-term care, research and family medicine. One of the largest health care centres of its kind in Canada, Bruyère Continuing Care includes:
Saint-Vincent Hospital, Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital, Bruyère Research Institute, Résidence Saint-Louis, Résidence, Élisabeth Bruyère, Bruyère Village, Bruyère Family Medicine Centre, Primrose Family Medicine Centre and Bruyère Foundation.
This new position will provide Bernie the opportunity to complete his ‘circle of care’ – leading an integrated organization such as Bruyère that provides exceptional care with a key focus on seniors. Bernie’s passion for seniors care is well-known and something he speaks about regularly.
In his role as the North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN CEO, Bernie represented the 14 LHIN CEOs as lead for the provincial Behavioural Supports Ontario project; the Integrated Provincial Falls program which involved all 14 LHINs and 36 Public Health Units; and, the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) Expanded Role initiative.
In addition to his provincial role, Bernie was instrumental in leading the North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN through the development and initial implementation of the integrated health system plan branded as Care Connections – Partnering for Healthy Communities.
Bernie began his career in health care as a paramedic and has served in a number of senior roles across six of Canada’s provinces and territories:
* CEO, Northern Lights Health Region in Northern Alberta
* Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Government of Nunavut
* CEO, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance in Southwestern Ontario
* CEO, Surrey Memorial Hospital, a 656 bed facility in British Columbia
* Senior Assistant Deputy Minister Health Reform, Manitoba Health
* CEO, Victoria General Hospital, Winnipeg
Bernie has been with the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network as CEO since March 2009.
QUOTES
“On behalf of the North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN Board and staff I want to acknowledge the dedication and commitment that Bernie has shown over the last three years. His belief in the individual as a key player in their health care journey, has kept everyone grounded and focused when implementing the Care Connections plan. While we are going to miss Bernie’s energy and enthusiasm, we recognize this as an opportunity not to be missed and we wish Bernie all the best in his new role.”
- Robert Morton, NSM LHIN Chair
“Seniors care is not only my passion but my mission. The opportunity to work for such a renowned organization as Bruyère was one that I could not pass up. While I look forward to the challenge, I must admit I do so with mixed
emotions. Care Connections is in its infancy of implementation and I would dearly love to be leading the LHIN through the full implementation. The North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN staff, our health service providers and partners
have been awesome at moving the implementation forward and are very capable of continuing to ensure our North Simcoe Muskoka residents are healthy, receive excellent care when they need it, and receive that care in a
seamless continuum of care – one system. We need to always remember “The best way to predict the future is to invent it “.
- Bernie Blais, NSM LHIN CEO
QUICK FACTS
As one of 14 LHINs across Ontario, the North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN plans, integrates and funds local health services, including hospitals, community care access centres, community health centres, long-term care homes, mental health and addiction programs and a variety of community support services agencies.
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