Shannon Dunsmuir says we’re lucky to get an Aussie as CEO of Alberta Health Services.
She’s a born and raised Calgarian living in Queensland, the Australian state Stephen Duckett has worked his magic in since he was hired to fix the health system in 2006.
“When I broke my finger (in Australia) last year, I was in and out of the hospital in less than 40 minutes, X-rays and all,” Dunsmuir said. “I had the same injury in Calgary and the hospital process took hours.
It’s a good thing an Australian is coming to handle things. Heck, I might even think about moving back now.”
In the time Duckett was chief executive of the Centre for Healthcare Improvement for Queensland Health, patients waiting longer than clinically desirable for surgery have decreased by 17.6 per cent, according to Queensland Health documents.
Bed capacity has also increased in Queensland hospitals by six per cent.
“His key strengths in change management will lead us in our quest to provide a patient-focused health system for all Albertans,” said Alberta Health Services Board chair Ken Hughes.
Added Ron Liepert, Alberta’s minister of Health and Wellness: “Albertans will have high expectations of the new CEO, who I am confident will bring new ideas.”
