Government & policy

New chair, interim CEO for eHealth Ontario

TORONTO – Ontario has nominated healthcare and information technology executive, Raymond Hession (pictured) as the new Chair of eHealth Ontario’s board of directors. The nomination is subject to review by the Standing Committee on Government Agencies.

As the Chair of eHealth Ontario, Hession would set policy and direction for the government agency responsible for all aspects of e-health in Ontario, including creating an electronic health record for all Ontarians by 2015. Hession would replace Rita Burak who has served as interim chair since June 17, 2009.

Hession has held key positions at technology firms including Kinburn Technologies Ltd. and IBM, and has served as Chair of the Board of Directors at Ontario Health Quality Council, Chair of the Board of Governors of the Ottawa Hospital, and Chair of the Cooperative Housing Agency of Canada.

Ontario is also appointing Michael Fenn as the new interim president and chief executive officer of eHealth Ontario, taking over for Rob Devitt. The appointment takes effect December 21, 2009 and will end February 26, 2010.

eHealth Ontario’s board of directors is currently conducting a search for a permanent CEO.

Fenn is a former CEO of Metrolinx and CEO of the Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network. Fenn also served as a Deputy Minister in the Ontario Public Service for eight years.

• By 2012, Ontario is seeking to have 9,000 physicians, including more than 65 percent of primary care physicians, using electronic medical records, to the benefit of approximately 10 million Ontarians.

• Electronic health records will provide patients and providers with the ability to access, share and use health information. This will improve health care delivery, increase patient safety, reduce ER wait times and create a more effective health care system, the government said.

Posted Dec. 24, 2009