Message from Chair of the Board

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the Senior Management Team at the Yukon Hospital Corporation (YHC), it gives me great pleasure to provide a brief summary of some of the highlights of this past year.

Two years after the transfer of the Watson Lake Community Hospital to the YHC, operations are running smoothly. The six bed hospital means that patients from the Watson Lake area can remain closer to their home while receiving care. The WLH Emergency Department continues to be busy. And our staffing has reached its full compliment. Surveyors from Accreditation Canada visited the Watson Lake Hospital in May of this year in preparation for their accreditation in 2014. Plans are underway to open the new hospital on May 6, 2013.

The new hospital construction project in Dawson City continues and plans are underway to open the facility on May 27, 2013.

The Yukon Government’s Continuing Care branch opened the first 19 beds in the Thomson Centre in the fall of 2011. The next 10 beds were occupied in August of 2012 and plans are to open another 10 beds in the fall of 2013. The YHC partnered with Continuing Care to ensure a smooth transition as the Thomson Centre returns to operation as a long term care facility.

The next year is shaping up to be another challenging year. After nearly five years with YHC, Joe MacGillivray CEO accepted a position with the Yukon Government beginning early August. Under Joe’s guidance, his team has made a significant contribution to the health of the Yukon. I would like to acknowledge and thank Joe for his leadership, dedication and commitment.

As chair of the Board of Trustees I am pleased to announce that Jason Bilsky has been hired as the new CEO starting in October 2012. Jason’s keen business sense and strong leadership skills and abilities will be an asset to the YHC.

The Board of Trustees has begun the process of developing a Strategic Plan for 2013 to 2018. Yukoners have the opportunity to provide input into this plan and are urged to complete the short questionnaire on the main page of the YHC website.

Despite the challenges that face health care every day across the country, the YHC believes that with effective and efficient team work, open communication, dedication and focus, we can continue to meet the challenges and move health care forward in the Yukon. The Yukon Hospital Corporation takes great pride in providing excellent patient care to all they serve, now and into the future.