JGH director Rosenberg to head west- end CIUSSS

Jewish General executive director will head CIUSSS west- central

The executive director of the Jewish General Hospital has seen his bailiwick increase exponentially now that he has been appointed head of the new network overseeing health care for the whole west- central part of the island of Montreal.

Dr. Lawrence Rosenberg has been named president- director general of the new Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux ( CIUSSS) du Centre-Ouest- de- l’Île- de- Montréal — a position that puts him in charge of the Jewish General, the Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre, Mount Sinai Hospital, Miriam Home and Services, the Jewish Eldercare Centre, the Constance- Lethbridge Rehabilitation Centre, the Cavendish Health and Social Services Centre and the de la Montagne Health and Social Services Centre.

Allen Rubin, president of the JGH board, cited Rosenberg ’s “in- depth understanding of health care systems and management” after the announcement — but many of Rosenberg ’s strident cost- cutting measures have put him at odds with some disgruntled staff at the Jewish in recent months.

And there is no question that he will have to continue in the same vein in his new position as the government’s austerity measures have made money scarcer than ever — and the whole health- care reorganization behind Bill 10 is about slashing bureaucracy to save money.

With Health Minister Gaétan Barrette’s unveiling of all the new leaders of the health- care system over the weekend, Quebecers finally know who will be overseeing their local health institutions under the Liberal government’s massive shakeup of the system.

But the announcements came as Barrette was facing calls for his resignation after a flurry of high- profile resignations at Quebec’s largest hospital network, the CHUM, amid charges that Barrette abused his power by meddling in the appointment of the hospital’s chief of surgery.

In fact, on the list of appointments from Barrette’s office detailing all of the new presidents in the healthcare network, the spot next to the CHUM says only: “to come,” since executive director Jacques Turgeon quit abruptly last week.

Bill 10 was adopted last month by the National Assembly and will help the government save $ 220 million a year by scrapping the health agencies and merging some medical establishments. It has been called “la révolution Barrette” and will have 182 medical establishments overseen by 34 umbrella organizations with their own boards and team of administrators.

The reorganization goes into effect on April 1.

In a statement, Rosenberg called his new responsibility “awesome” and said he will continue to make it his priority to “ensure access and the continuity of care and services.”

Rubin said he couldn’t think of anyone better suited to lead health care in the region and “contribute to the transformation of health care across Quebec.” He also credited Rosenberg with being instrumental in the process that eliminated the hospital’s deficit and balanced its budget.

The appointments didn’t bring many surprises locally as many hospital heads are continuing in the same capacity although some, like Rosenberg, will be overseeing a larger territory under the new plan.

The executive director of the McGill University Health Centre, Normand Rinfret, has been appointed president of the MUHC, which does not have to merge with any other institutions under Bill 10.

As with Rosenberg, Rinfret’s appointment seems to have a strong link to fiscal management, with Rinfret saying in a statement he was proud of the MUHC’s progress in becoming “a stronger steward of public funds.”

The other presidents named in Montreal:

Benoît Morin, West Island CIUSSS

Sonia Bélanger, East- Central CIUSSS Pierre Gfeller, North CIUSSS Yvan Gendron, East CIUSSS Fabrice Brunet, Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte- Justine

Denis Roy, Institut de Cardiologie de Montréal

Renée Fugère, Institut PhilippePinel de Montréal