MD disputes gripes
Published Monday January 19th, 2009
Health Dr. Dennis Furlong says hiring process for province's new trauma system is 'above board'
FREDERICTON - Despite concerns expressed by the Conservative Opposition, the physician in charge of setting up the province's new trauma system says all decisions are being made "above board" and that efforts to launch the improved trauma network are progressing.
Yet in a recent interview, Tory health critic Margaret-Ann Blaney warned of developing problems in the organizing stages.
First, the Rothesay MLA said Saint John is being shut out of the hiring process as the trauma advisory committee seeks a doctor to permanently head the provincial system.
And second, Blaney alleged the hiring committee has unnecessarily boosted the language requirements for potential candidates.
She said too much emphasis is being placed on the degree of bilingualism possessed by the successful candidate.
While she agrees the trauma head must be able to function in their second language, Blaney argues language shouldn't overshadow education and competency.
"If I'm in a car accident and need to see a trauma specialist, I want the best," she said. "Yes, you need to be able to communicate, but is it a priority whether that person is fluently bilingual?"
Dr. Dennis Furlong, chairman of the trauma advisory committee and a former Conservative health minister, disputes many of Blaney's gripes.
First off, he said, there has been no change to the language requirements.
The hiring committee is still seeking an individual with so-called "level three" proficiency, based on government second-language standards.
According to Furlong, that standard means the head of the trauma system must be able to function in their second language.
For example, they must have the ability to teach at a medical school in their non-native tongue.
But that doesn't mean the successful candidate has to be fully literate in terms of reading and writing skills, he said.
Plus, said Furlong, appropriate language skills are just one prerequisite - along with a solid knowledge of trauma medicine and an administrative background.
As well, Furlong said, there is no point in focusing great attention on Saint John's role in the hiring process.
"This is not a Saint John job. It's a provincial job that rests in Saint John," he said.
"It's not as parochial as that, I'm afraid. This is a provincial program."
That said, Saint John has the most to gain from the trauma upgrade, he noted. The whole operation will be based out of the Saint John Regional Hospital, and the head of the system - and accompanying staff - will reside in the Port City.
"This is a bonanza for Saint John. I would be happy to say, 'Let's put all of this in Campbellton.' But it can't happen that way."
Furlong also said much "misinformation" has surrounded who might be chosen to lead the system - and when.
He said the hiring committee put the task of recruitment in the hands of a Toronto head-hunting firm, after a preliminary search netted only one candidate.
There are now a few more applicants and about a half dozen others who have expressed interest, he said, noting the search spanned North America.
"There has been nobody ruled in and nobody ruled out," he said.
"We have to go through the process."
Furlong expects major movement on the hiring front to occur before the spring, including a decision on what the position will pay.
By spring, the search committee likely will have forwarded its recommendations to the trauma advisory committee, as well as to the province's two regional health authorities.
Until then the hiring process continues, he said.
"Everything is above board," said Furlong, who worked as an ER doctor for 25 years
When completed, the $80-million trauma system will better link the province's emergency rooms, surgeons and other medical specialists with air and ground ambulance services.
The goal is to better treat the roughly 250 high-level trauma cases that occur each year in New Brunswick, such as major head, chest and spine injuries.
While the majority of trauma cases will be treated just as they are now, there will be a more clear understanding of where severely injured patients should be sent for treatment.
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In doing so she risks becoming just so much noise and fails in her duties as opposition critic to ADD to debate.
But the conservative opposition in general has hamstrung itself when not yet holding a policy convention to articulate to New Brunswickers what the party stands for, beyond those vague statements common to all and any political party there is nothing much here. This is a serious impediment that a party which wants to be seen as capable needs to correct.
In the mean time Margret Blaney would do better researching facts to support her allegations or refrain from these blurps of hers.
So we should be thankful for what we get and stop "griping". The French never "gripe" so why should we. Apparently "griping" is an English thing only, in this paper at least.
I admit to not being sure why the CEO's have to be French since there will be plenty of (costly) translators on the floor and at the technical level. Equally uncertain is that working in such an atmosphere may make it difficult to recruit Anglo doctors but, wiser heads have decided otherwise. Maybe the CEO of this paper should be a Francophne position. It's all about "respect",you know. I love it.