VPSA board and staff meet regularly with VCH senior leaders to develop a collaborative relationship between medical staff and the health authority. The September meeting included updates from both VMDAS/VPSA and Vancouver Acute senior leaders.

September meeting summary

VMDAS is preparing for its annual awards in October, which include length of service recognition, which is coordinated with Medical Affairs. Vancouver Community physicians who are no longer licensed are now categorized as credentialled medical providers (CMPs). Those attending the meeting agreed that CMPs should be recognized for their length of service.

VMDAS will check with Vancouver Community about how length of service is determined for VC physicians who have transitioned from privileged to CMPs.

Revised terms of reference for meetings

VMDAS/VPSA Secretary Sarah Barrett, VPSA Project Manager Annapurna Chavali, and VCH’s Manager, Provider Strategic Initiatives and Engagement for Vancouver Acute, Laura Mc Evoy met to draft updated terms of reference for these leadership collaborative table meetings. They presented the draft to those attending the September meeting.

Key changes are references to VPSA’s advocacy policy and VMDAS quarterly meetings, revised membership with an overall reduction in standing members, up to six meetings per year to coincide in order to support VMDAS’s quarterly meetings. VPSA will provide secretarial duties with those attending supporting meeting via Teams rather than Zoom.

VMDAS/VPSA update

VPSA is at the beginning stages of updating its strategic plan and will report further on this at the November meeting.

VMDAS postponed its September quarterly meeting as the date conflicted with a religious holiday. The theme of The Mental Health Front Door – Rethinking Acute Mental Health Care is now expected to be presented at the association’s February meeting. The anticipated theme for the May meeting is PGME at VGH: Improving the Learning Environment.

Potential VPSA items for the November meeting of this group include discussion around the VPSA strategic plan, VMDAS’s terms of reference, and the work of its wellness, digital health and/or planetary health groups.

Recruitment of mentees and mentors for the physician mentorship program was identified as a current challenge and meeting members were asked to consider strategies to help improve participation.

The reopening of the VMDAS Hub for Engagement and Wellness at VGH is currently expected to be some time in November.

VCH updates

VA Senior Medical Director Dr. Vinay Dhingra talked about the redevelopment of the VGH campus. Rezoning proposals successfully moved through Vancouver City council during the summer with strong support.

VCH is launching its first dedicated inpatient Phase 1 Clinical Research Trials Unit at UBC; the new unit will open in mid-September. It contains four beds and will support first-in-human and early-stage clinical research. Dr. Chris Uy will serve as Medical Director.

The Vascular Surgery Rapid Access Clinic is now operational. It is intended for urgent vascular referrals that do not require admission but should not wait months for specialist consultation. The service supports both Vancouver and Coastal patients and is expected to improve access and reduce unnecessary ED admissions.

Planning for CST implementation at GF Strong continues. Go-live is expected in summer 2027, with significant preparatory work underway.

VA VP Gail Malenstyn raised that accreditation activities are occurring November 16-20. Twenty-five survey teams will be participating. Hand hygiene compliance was highlighted as an area of focus for physicians.

Shared Services transitions continue at the provincial level, with IT transitions anticipated in January. Leadership teams remain engaged in recovery work following the lengthy nursing strike.

Next meeting

The group will next meet on November 12. If you have questions/issues/concerns around the topics discussed or would like to suggest new topics, please fill out this form.