DOCS SLAM HEALTH AUTHORITY

ROCKYVIEW NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE

September 12, 1997 -- By MIKE FISHER -- Calgary Sun
  Doctors at Rockyview Hospital have sent a strong warning to their bosses that reorganization of health services in Calgary isn't working.
 The Rockyview Medical Staff Association, representing hundreds of doctors, has issued a vote of non-confidence to the Calgary Regional Health Authority -- the first time this step has been taken in this city.
 The association's request this week for a review of medical services at the Rockyview has been referred to a CRHA medical leadership team.
 Lack of on-site administrative direction at the Rockyview will make patients the losers, say some doctors.
 But CRHA chief medical officer Dr. John Jarrell said yesterday patient care is not threatened.
 He acknowledged medical staff at the hospital aren't satisfied with the administrative system, but said improvements are under way.
 "This will not effect patient care," said Jarrell.
 While regionalization of city hospitals began in 1994, the 66 department heads at the facilities have been trimmed to 11, he said. Most of the medical department heads are from other hospitals in the region.
 "This represents the frustration physicians at the Rockyview site feel over the regionalization changes and the fact there is no physician leadership on site," said Dr. Jeffrey Way, past-president of the association.
 "The staff feels there is minimal input into the process."

6:55 AM 12-Sep-97