Presented at RVHS 2011 Annual General Meetings of Members
by RVHS Board Member and Community Advisory Group Chair Rhonda Lawson

The members of the Community Advisory Group (CAG) have listened and learned about the hospital in order to bring us their advice as members of our communities.

The CAG is comprised of members who reflect the diverse communities and viewpoints that make up our Rouge Valley area of east Toronto and west Durham. The members help to extend Rouge Valley's communications network, serving as our eyes and ears to help us connect with our cities, towns, neighbourhoods and families. In particular, the advisory group is mandated to bring community views on health care needs and issues. They help us communicate and listen. They provide advice and feedback on current issues. They ensure that the hospital is in touch with local health care needs.

The CAG has had a very productive year. This year the CAG was involved in development of the new Strategic Plan and we were also tasked with the initial development and draft of the Patient Declaration of Values, as required under the Excellent Care for All Act.

The Patient Declaration of Values started with a blank slate, we entered into a brainstorming session which identified the key components of the documents, further meeting discussions solidified the concepts and statements. Then the document went to the Board in draft form, and to the Community for input from past patients, current patients, community care groups, and general population through online and paper surveys.

The outcome is a strong commitment from our organization to the patient experience, and we are proud to say that the declaration of values is truly a reflection of the community’s needs from the patient’s perspective. Our Patient Declaration of Values satisfies a component of the government’s Excellent Care for All Act. But the true value of the declaration is much deeper than that. It lists what our patients and community wants, expects and deserves from their community hospital. Now it’s the job of our hospital team to deliver on those values everyday in every interaction with our patients and communities.

I would like to congratulate the Community Advisory Group for a very successful year and acknowledge the individual members of the committee.

The group members are:

• Israt Ahmed

• Steven Campbell

• Linda Crawford

• Conrad D’Souza

• Randy Filinski

• Liben Gebremikael

• Phyllis Hill

• Ome Jamal

• Hajara Kutty

• Lisa Mattam

• Kathy Sparrow

• New member Nancy Eickmeier

• CAG Chair Rhonda Lawson

• Supported by staff members David Brazeau and Michele Jordan.

On behalf of the hospital Board, I’d like to thank the members of our Community Advisory Group.