For Immediate Release:
Friday, March 2, 2001

Access to Health Care Services will Greatly Improve Thanks to Funding Announcement

Gale Mossman, GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance Chair, recently announced the appointment of Joe Pilon to the position of executive director. According to Mossman the appointment followed a "rigorous, three-month search and interview process."

"We're pleased Joe is on board," says Mossman. "With over ten years of demonstrated leadership experience at senior levels in the health care field, I believe Joe will help the Alliance achieve permanent, responsive funding solutions for the long-term health needs of our growing and aging populations."

A seasoned health care executive, Joe Pilon is familiar with the "incredible capital and operating funding needs of GTA/905 hospitals." He has been impressed with the dedication of Alliance hospital board chairs, CEOs and other volunteers in their ongoing effort to establish appropriate funding to ensure the population's health needs are met.

"The Alliance has been breaking down barriers to create a better health care system for residents in the GTA/905," says Pilon. "Collectively Alliance hospitals have a clear vision and singular voice that has affected significant change in the communities they serve."

Pilon acknowledges that the funding and health service challenges faced by Alliance hospitals are daunting. And although rapidly growing health needs are well recognized, the aging population is also increasing at tremendous rates. "The GTA/905 annual growth in the elderly population, aged 70 and over, is more than double the Ontario average," explains Pilon. "We need to keep in mind that the elderly use hospital services, on average, six times more frequently than the average patient."

"On the positive side, we are working with a government that has demonstrated a strong willingness to improve the healthcare system overall," says Pilon. "The Alliance will continue to work with the government to develop permanent funding solutions as we continue to focus our attention on the significant capital funding needs required for hospital redevelopment and the provision of healthcare services closer to home."

GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance hospitals include: Halton Healthcare Services, Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital, Lakeridge Health Corporation, Markham Stouffville Hospital, Rouge Valley Health System, Credit Valley Hospital, Trillium Health Centre, Whitby Mental Health Centre, William Osler Health Centre, York Central Hospital, Southlake Regional Health Centre.

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The GTA/905 Healthcare Alliance is a group of eleven hospital corporations from the regions of Durham, Halton, Peel, York and surrounding areas. Alliance hospitals include: Halton Healthcare Services, Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital, Lakeridge Health Corporation, Markham Stouffville Hospital, Rouge Valley Health System, Southlake Regional Health Centre, The Credit Valley Hospital, Trillium Health Centre, Whitby Mental Health Centre, William Osler Health Centre, and York Central Hospital.