VMDAS/VPSA board and staff meet regularly with VCH senior leaders to develop a collaborative relationship between medical staff and the health authority. The October meeting saw a variety of issues discussed including the agenda development process for future meetings, updates on violence prevention, MSA advocacy and bidirectional feedback from members, VPSA support for a new VA PGME working group, and the impact of VGH OR renovations on the medical staff lounge.

Senior leadership team meeting agenda development process

Over the years, agendas for meetings between VPSA and VA/VC senior leaders have largely been driven by issues that medical staff want to know more about. To be more intentional and more collaborative, VPSA suggested that agendas be developed earlier and that these include issues of importance to all parties. The goal is to move from simply sharing information to engaging and collaborating.

To that end, VPSA Operations Director Andrew Pinfold, VA’s Manager, Provider Strategic Initiatives & Experience Laura Mc Evoy, and VCH’s Director, Strategy Development Lori Benning will meet. Part of their discussion will be a review of the group’s terms of reference.

VPSA engagement with VCH Violence Prevention

VPSA has been engaging with VCH’s Violence Prevention team over the past year in response to concerns raised by members about safety in the workplace. Following an incident that occurred in a VGH parking lot, VPSA engaged with Protection Services and was able to pass on to members information regarding security patrols, alarms, CCTV coverage, and safe walk requests.

VCH’s Executive Director of Operations Yasman August will take ongoing medical staff concerns to the health authority’s Violence Prevention group and bring back key takeaways and deliverables at a future meeting. Everyone agreed that medical staff and staff need to feel supported in their concerns, but that not all concerns can be accommodated. Staff working in Protection Services are trained to de-escalate tense situations and to intervene physically if need be.

MSA advocacy and bidirectional feedback from members

VPSA President Ka Wai Cheung reminded those attending the meeting that VPSA provides its members with summaries of these meetings as well as the HAMAC and VMAC meetings in its weekly Checkup e-newsletter. To encourage two-way communication, these summaries now include opportunities for members to provide feedback and to raise any issues or concerns they may have.

VA PGME working group and VPSA support

Medical Director, Post-Graduate Medical Education, Dr. Kelly Lefaivre will be chairing a new PGME Learning Environment Committee. VPSA has approved funding for time its physician members spend as part of the committee; however, Doctors of BC guidelines prevent the association from compensating residents for the time they spend there. Dr. Lefaivre may have found another source for partial funding of residents’ time but additional funding is still needed.

Meeting members discussed other possible options for funding resident time with no clear solution at this time.

VGH medical staff lounge renovations and closure

One of the VGH operation rooms about to undergo renovations requires access to the ceiling in the VMDAS Hub for Engagement and Wellness (HEW). That work will necessitate the closure of the HEW from February until about August 2026. This is an area where members decompress, connect with colleagues, enjoy a free cup of coffee and network at monthly lunches. It is accessed by 70 to 100 VPSA members daily.

VPSA has connected with VCH’s Director, Surgical Services, Shelly Fleck but at this point a replacement venue has yet to be identified. The need is for a plumbed room where the coffee machine can be plugged in and with card access so it is secure.

Mr. Pinfold and Ms. August will try to find a solution.

Next meeting

The group next meets on November 13. If you have questions/issues/concerns around the topics discussed or would like to suggest new topics, please fill out this form.