From osoyostimes.com
Interior Health board member John O’Fee of Kamloops has been appointed incoming chair of the board of directors, to replace current board chair Erwin Malzer when he completes his tenure on Dec. 31, 2016.
“In his 10 years as a director and two years as board chair, Mr. Malzer has served Interior Health with distinction, with a strong focus on building patient care and improving health outcomes for the residents of the Interior region,” said Health Minister Terry Lake. “We greatly appreciate his significant contribution to the provincial health-care system.”
Since becoming board chair in January 2015, Malzer has overseen numerous initiatives that have improved access to patient care, including the opening of new community health centres in Grand Forks and Kelowna, the Royal Inland Hospital Clinical Services Building in Kamloops, and the Interior Heart and Surgical Centre in Kelowna.
In that time, digital mammography services at Cariboo Memorial Hospital were also introduced, the Intensive Care Unit at East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook was expanded, and the Polson Tower at Vernon Jubilee Hospital was completed.
A key focus for Malzer and the board of directors has been – and will continue to be – improving Interior Health’s relationship with Aboriginal peoples.
During his tenure as board chair, a Letter of Understanding was signed with the Ulkatcho First Nation, the last of eight health agreements that create strong partnerships to enhance health outcomes for our Aboriginal population.
To improve patient and care provider access to health information, Malzer championed investments in technology including the launch of MyHealthPortal, which gives patients 24-hour electronic access to their health information, the expansion of electronic health records to Royal Inland Hospital’s emergency department, and broadened the reach of telehealth services.
Read more here