May 20, 1997
(Health)

The following statement was issued today by Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

Mr. Speaker, today I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Doreen Neville as the CEO of the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information. In the recent provincial health forum, participants told us that information sharing and evidence based decision making was a key direction for long term planning in the health system. This appointment is the first step in providing government, health care providers and the public with the information they need to make sound decisions about health care.

We are very pleased that Ms. Neville has accepted this position as her qualifications are exemplary. She brings with her, 20 years of experience in the health system to this challenging new role. Beginning her career in the nursing field, Dr. Neville has extensive experience in ICU and psychiatric nursing. She has since gone on to become involved in all aspects of administration and program development in the health sector. Dr. Neville is also a graduate of the Harvard School of Public Health. She is currently an assistant professor of Health Policy and Health Care Delivery at Memorial University. I ask Honourable Members to join with me in welcoming Ms. Neville to this exciting new position.

As CEO for the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information, Dr. Neville will be responsible for developing a strategic plan for the new organization and providing administrative leadership.

The establishment of the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information was announced in October of 1996. It will help improve the long-term health system of the province by bringing together existing health information systems into an integrated and comprehensive information technology system for health and social services. It will incorporate data related to the Department of Human Resources and Employment in recognition of the determinants of health such as income, employment, social support networks and housing, among others.

The centre will be located in Southcott Hall under the authority of the Health Care Corporation of St. John's and will be reviewed after two years. It will have responsibility for coordinating, monitoring and analysing data province-wide. Currently, various information systems exist separately. In bringing them together, we will improve the future of health services in the province by coordinating evidence based health information which will assist government, health providers, consumers and special interest groups in making more informed decisions about health care.

Mr. Speaker, through the Provincial Health Forum we heard that government needed to identify where health resources could be most effectively placed based upon timely, accurate, and reliable information. This centre will provide government with the ability to make sound financial decisions based upon proven health outcomes. It will also ensure effective utilization of health services and assist in carrying out sound financial and human resource planning.

We look forward to seeing the results of an integrated information system. I am confident, Mr. Speaker, that the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information will carry out its mandate in a timely manner under the competent direction of Dr. Neville.