Hospital CEO a 'jewel'
The president and CEO of Health Sciences North, Dr. Denis Roy, has been named the most outstanding regional executive both in Canada and worldwide by a publication called Over 50s Housing Weekly News.
The publication specializes in news, events and trends in the sector of seniors' housing, health care, goods and services, according to a press release from the hospital. The national and global awards have been created to recognize excellence in the delivery of seniors' services.
Russ Boyles, the chair of the hospital's board of directors, said the hospital didn't nominate Roy for the award.
“They have a nomination process they go through across the country,” he said. “Anybody can nominate anybody. He was nominated, and they did a review for him, and they did a review of other candidates. One day out of the blue ... he got a call about it.”
Boyles said Roy is working hard to improve conditions at the hospital.
“The health-care industry, and hospitals in particular ... are red-flagged as being very critical to the community,” he said.
“They're also a very complex organization to run. We have 4,000 employees. We make mistakes from time to time, and we work hard at correcting them. On average, I think it's recognition that he has done a great job for the hospital, and for the community and for the board of directors.”
Although Roy was the one who was presented with the award, “it's thanks to the great team he has working for him — all the employees of Health Sciences North,” Boyles said.
Esmonde Crawley, editor of Over 50s Housing Weekly News, praised Roy for his work.
“Managing expectations and demands requires a battlefield commander's mentality, the patience of Job and the equanimity of a Hemingway hero,” she said, in a press release. “Rare is the man who possesses all these characteristics. Dr. Denis Roy is that jewel.”
Pat Campbell, president and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association, said in the press release that it “comes as no surprise” that Roy has been presented with the awards.
“He has supported the introduction of new care models designed to be more responsive and accessible for patients, and shows the kind of skills and experience Ontarians expect from their hospital leaders.”
Roy, who is currently on holidays, was not available for an interview about the awards. However, he said in the press release he's “honoured” to accept them.
“I feel it is a validation of the work the entire HSN team has done to be more seniors-friendly in our approach to health care,” he said.
Posted by Arron Pickard
