THUNDER BAY – The new president and chief executive officer of the regional hospital intends to do a lot of listening during his early days on the job.
Jean Bartowiak, who in December was hired to lead the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute, officially began his term Monday.
He toured the facility and met with staff and patients in a number of different areas of the hospital, including a sit down with patient and family advisor Mona Hardy during her afternoon medical appointment.
“It’s all part of my role in this institution. I’m the spokesperson for the institution but I’m also the person who will have to support the teams in their priorities, scientifically, medically and academically,” he said.
Bartkowiak brings more than 30 years of medical experience to the regional hospital, including 20 as an executive. Prior to his hiring, he most recently served as interim president and CEO for Mattawa Hospital and Algonquin Nursing Home and was previously president and CEO of Bruyere Continuing Care in Ottawa. He also had extended stints running facilities in Victoriaville and Gatineau, both in Quebec.
He noted the reputation Thunder Bay has for providing patient centred care and said that was why it was important to meet with Hardy.
“Apart from all the technology that surrounds the patient, it’s mostly how we relate to the individuals that we care for that’s important. They’re not experts with the technology that surrounds them but they definitely know what their expectations are of us,” he said.
Hardy said she was glad to have the opportunity to meet with Bartkowiak on his first date and hopes it is a good sign for patients getting to provide input into how the hospital is run.
“It’s important because without the patient there wouldn’t be a hospital. A patient should have an input, patients should get to more input into their care rather than relying on someone else. It’s re-educating your patients to tell you what they want,” she said.
While Bartkowiak did not answer too many specific questions about what his mandate will be, he acknowledged the chronic gridlock problems that have plagued the hospital.
He said he knows eliminating extended periods of gridlock and getting the budgets back into black
“Gridlock, as well as deficits, is the symptoms of what’s ailing the system. I now have to study the system to see what the real disease is,” Bartkowiak said, identifying a lack of available long-term care beds throughout the system as a primary factor.
“In many of the institutions I’ve worked at it was one of the root causes of all the other symptoms that affect the organization. I say this with a lot of humility, I know this institution has tried to tackle this issue for a long time. I’ve been hired to deliver on that.”
Bartkowiak replaces former president and CEO Andree Robichaud, who served in the role for five years. Bill McCready had filled the role in an interim role since June.
