Aspen CEO gets role in new system

As part of its move to a single provincial health system, Alberta Health Services has fired nine top administrators from their jobs in the former regional system. Four senior leaders have been appointed to new positions within the organization.

Andrew Will, former president and CEO of Aspen, the region Jasper fell into, is one of the four selected for a role in the new system. Will was appointed senior operating officer in the rural health delivery stream.

He will work under Pam Whitnack, former chief executive officer of the Chinook Health Region, as she becomes the chief operating officer for the rural health delivery stream.

“Blah blah,” Will said. (hoping to talk to him Wednesday morning, when he’s back from vacation)

Paddy Meade, former deputy minister for Alberta Health and Wellness, has been appointed to executive operating officer to lead the continuum of care division, and Dr. Chris Eagle, former president and chief operating officer from the Calgary Health Region will become the chief operating officer for the urban stream. 

“These four senior people have proven over a long period that they understand the many different aspects of health care and have the ability to motivate and lead a team that can make a difference,” Ken Hughes, chair of the Alberta Health Services board, said in a statement.

The CEO positions of the nine health regions have been eliminated, as well as those of three other medical bodies that govern cancer care, addictions services and mental health. Capital Health’s CEO Sheila Weatherill has also been laid off.

Hughes also said he wanted to recognize and thank the terminated administrators for their dedication and contributions, and that this restructuring will better serve patients.

Scott Donaldson, executive director of communications for Aspen Health, said the next set of lay-offs is pending.

“This would be the first round of staff,” Donaldson said. “They want everything in place by April 1 2009, so we expect there will be phases throughout the coming year.”

In the meantime, there have been no appointments to fill the senior roles.

“We have a very experienced senior executive team here in Aspen, and they’re very capable of stepping up and working together until the new structure is announced,” he said, adding the new structure will likely be announced this week or next. “We expect there will be someone else named to point people to for the former regions at least for the transition periods.”

Heather Smith, president of United Nurses of Alberta, opposes the move to one board and said the changes are certain to cause confusion.

“With the removal of the CEOs, who’s reporting to the boards? We didn’t need that sort of dramatic removal,” Smith said. “For the front line staff I don’t think there’s going to be a direct impact on day to day work, but it does provide stress and uncertainty in the administrative workings of what used to be the regions.”

Donaldson said he doesn’t see any reason the new system won’t succeed.

“They’ve got some great people and looking at Andrew, he did a great job for us at Aspen and he’ll be a real asset to health care in rural Alberta and for Alberta Health Services in general,” he said.