Northern Health Looking To Balance Books

By Michelle Cyr-Whiting

Valemount, B.C. - The Northern Health Authority expects to end the 2009-2010 fiscal year with a balanced budget.

At a Board of Directors meeting held in Valemount, CEO Cathy Ulrich says, "We have worked very hard and made some tough decisions, but Northern Health continues to work towards a balance year-end."

Ulrich says, "We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we will continue to focus on an integrated model of health service delivery built on primary care and technology and we will do so within our resources."

To that end, Board members heard from the NH Robson Valley primary care health care team on how such care is being delivered in the region.

Primary care is the first and most consistent point of contact that people will have with the health system.  Dr. Ray Markham and a team of nurses and clinical support staff are becoming role models for other rural areas through their primary care system -- it's a 'one-stop' model that gives residents in the Valemount area access to a fuller range of services.

Dr. Markham recently received the Order of British Columbia and has been recognized nationally and internationally for his accomplishments in rural and remote health care.

Northern Health Board Chair, Dr. Charles Jago, says, "(Dr. Markham and the team's) leadership in this community provides a shining example of what we think can be accomplished in other communities in Northern B.C.."

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