A recent survey, conducted in April on behalf of the National Union of Provincial Government Employees, found that 64% OF CANADIANS BELIEVE THAT MEDICARE CAN BE ENHANCED to include home care, long-term care and prescription drugs WITHOUT INCREASING TAXES or expanding the role of the private sector. The survey, which polled 2023 Canadians, revealed that 88% believe it is "very important" that income not affect access to care. One-third of women and 30% of men said they worry that they might suffer from mistakes made by overworked, over-stressed hospital staff.

Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children recently appointed DR. BONNIE STEVENS as inaugural holder of The Signy Hildur Eaton Chair in Paediatric Nursing Research. The first chair of its kind in Canada, the focus is on nursing research in a focus group of infants and children.

Ontario's new Deputy Minister of Health and Long-Term Care is DANIEL BURNS who has been Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade since June 1998. He replaces Jeffrey Lozon.

DR. ANDREAS LAUPACIS has been appointed President and CEO of the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Studies in Toronto, effective September 5. Dr. Laupacis is currently Director of the Clinical Epidemiology Unit at the Loeb Research Institute, The Ottawa Hospital, and he holds appointments in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine at the University of Ottawa.

In March, ONTARIO'S HEALTH SERVICES RESTRUCTURING COMMISSION (HSRC) released its final recommendations, a seven-point action plan including: reinvestment of savings achieved through hospital restructuring, a comprehensive provincial health-information management system, and improved monitoring of system performance. HSRC Chairman, Dr. Duncan Sinclair, urged the government to move quickly to implement primary care reform and to end fee-for-service physician compensation. The Commission's Legacy Report can be found at https://www.chsrf.ca/english/document-library/index.html

The Ontario Ministry of Health has announced $1-BILLION IN CAPITAL FUNDING will be distributed between 54 hospitals. The funds are for restructuring as recommended by the Health Services Restructuring Commission (HSRC). Toronto-area hospitals will get $143.2 million, Eastern Ontario hospitals will get $73.5 million, London will get almost $100 million, Windsor will get just under $50 million, and Niagara-area hospitals will get almost $40 million. The ministry is providing 70% of the funding for approved capital projects directed by the HSRC.

The federal government has announced funding of $350,000 to the University of Manitoba's Health Science Centre to assist with the creation of a CHAIR IN HEPATITIS C AND LIVER RESEARCH. The funding comes as part of Health Canada's $50-million Hepatitis C Prevention, Support and Research Program.

NEWFOUNDLAND has increased its annual spending on health to $1.2 billion up 25% from five years ago. The budget includes $6.2 million to enhance cardiac surgery; $5.4 million for the drug plan; $24.3 million in the next year for new medical equipment; and $600,000 for incentives to keep graduating nurses in the province.

Effective October 1st, NOVA SCOTIA'S four regional hospital boards will be replaced by nine district health authorities with responsibility for over-seeing delivery of health services. Also in Nova Scotia, Health Minister Jamie Muir recently announced approval for the construction of a new $45-million regional hospital in the Amherst area.

RICK ROGER, CEO of B.C.'s Vancouver- Richmond Health Board will become CEO of the Capital Health Region in Victoria, effective August 31st. Roger will replace Tom Closson, who is returning to Ontario to become CEO of the University Health Network in Toronto.

SHIRLEY SHARKEY, President and CEO of Ontario's Saint Elizabeth Home Care, recently assumed a two-year term as president of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO)

New This Spring:

Four Strong Winds: Understanding the Growing Challenges to Health Care, by Michael Decter, Stoddart Publishers, 256 pages $29.95

"This book has a direct and simple origin. As I have travelled to many cities and countries to learn, speak and consult, I am asked two questions on every single occasion:

• What are the forces driving change in healthcare systems?
• Where are these forces taking our health system?

This book is my answer."
From the Foreward of Four Strong Winds

In Defence of Civility: Reflections of a Recovering Politician, by Hugh Segal, Stoddart Publishers,304 pp. $34.95

Hugh Segal reflects on lessons learned from his leadership bid for the Progressive Conservative Party and from the people, political events and workings of government and parties as he experienced them. Most interesting to Hospital Quarterly readers are his ideas for reforming the healthcare system. Both books available on-line at: chapters.ca; indigo.ca; or customer service@ccmailgw.gen.pub.com

BILL MACLEOD, who was acting CEO of Toronto's St. Michael's Hospital, has accepted a 12-month appointment as CEO of Hamilton Health Sciences Corp (HHSC). Earlier this year, veteran healthcare administrator, Ronald R. Mulchey was appointed supervisor of HHSC by the Ministry of Health following an operational review.

In early May, JAIME BALLEM was appointed Minister of Health and Social Services for Prince Edward Island, replacing Mildred Dover. Mr. Ballem previously served as chair of the Standing Committees on Privileges, Rules and Private Bills, and Agriculture, Forestry and Environment.

MICHAEL FARNWORTH was appointed Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors in British Columbia in late February. Mr. Farnworth was previously Minister of Employment and Investment and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

SASKATCHEWAN has distributed health indicators for planning and evaluating programs and services for mothers and infants to each of its health districts. The package includes statistical benchmarks to help health districts plan and evaluate progress as well as key indicators such as infant mortality and other predictors of population health. Indicators for services to children and youth will be released to the districts in the summer, while those for adults and seniors are still under development by the provincial government, health districts and the Health Services Utilization and Research Commission (HSURC).

Vendor News

MEDISOLUTION LTD., recently announced the appointment of PATRICK A. ARTINOFF as President of Ontario/Western Canada Division. Mr. Artinoff was previously vice-president and Global Manager of Agfa Medical Imaging Systems, PACS Division (also known as IMPAX Solutions.) The company has also signed a contract with Northeast Health, a comprehensive provider of healthcare services to implement an integrated human resource management system, marking MediSolution's entry into the U.S. market. Based in Troy, NY, Northeast Health is a not-for-profit healthcare and community services network spanning 58 locations and more than 4,200 healthcare professionals and staff, offering acute, chronic, primary, long-term and homecare services.

Axia NetMedia Corporation, Cisco Canada and Microsoft Canada have formed a strategic alliance focused on delivering network and application services to customers looking to lever the power of IP networks through managed services.

SHELLY JAMIESON has been named President of Extendicare (Canada) Inc. She has been with Extendicare since 1998, and was previously executive director of the Ontario Long- Term Care Association and a member of Ontario Health Services Restructuring Commission.

Improving the Fiscal Health of the Canadian System A third annual survey conducted for Aventis Pharma by The Angus Reid Group between Feb.10 and Mar. 2, 2000 provides information about the attitudes of the 8.6 million Canadians who are members of private health plans, which offer health coverage to up to 22 million Canadians.

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