2009 Small Rural and Northern Award of Excellence
The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) is pleased to present the Small, Rural and Northern Award of Excellence. This prestigious award recognizes innovation and excellence in the delivery of patient care within a small, rural and/or northern hospital and is open to individuals or teams who are employees, medical staff, volunteers or trustees.
The committee was looking for an individual or team that demonstrated innovation in one of the following categories:
- System Integration;
- Patient Care Leadership;
- Technological Innovation;
- Clinical Efficiencies; or
- Knowledge Management and Best Practices.
This year’s SRN Award of Excellence award winner is Hal Fjeldsted, CEO of Kirkland and District Hospital.
In addition to his CEO duties at Kirkland and District Hospital, Hal is also currently the Chair of the Rural and Northern Panel and has worked tirelessly on behalf of all Small, Northern and Rural hospitals to ensure that their voices are heard.
Hal first got involved with the OHA in 1999 as a member of the Region 1 Regional Council Executive Committee and has been involved in many Region 1 issues and activities.
In particular, he has:
- Been instrumental in securing meetings annually with the Northern Liberal Caucus in order to get the concerns of northern hospitals on the table and to ensure their support;
- Worked continuously to ensure that the UAP review and recommendations were supported; and
- Spearheaded efforts to organize annual meetings with the senior staff of both campuses of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
Hal is a genuine volunteer that is selflessly dedicated to promoting the interests and challenges of the hospitals in the north.
He is a connector and a legacy in his methodical approach to reviewing governance obligations.
He is a driving force and his unfailing support and belief in the issues of the north has had an overall and long lasting effect on all Small, Rural and Northern hospitals.