The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is responding to hospital survey results released by the local health coalition.
Hospital Supervisor Rob Devitt insists that the two emergency rooms in Wallaceburg and Chatham will remain open 24/7 and will be improved, which is something the Chatham-Kent Health Coalition wants.
The survey also indicates that people are travelling too much and waiting too long for healthcare. Devitt says that is being addressed.
"A good portion of them lives in Chatham and as good a portion lives in rural communities and issues to access to care and being responsive to what's unique to such as spread out population is really important to us," says Devitt.
Bed and staff shortages, along with a lack of doctors, are also local concerns.
Devitt says as far as a future vision, the new CEO will be working on a new strategic and facilities plan to update the Wallaceburg and Chatham campuses.
The local health coalition also wants an elected hospital board of directors to properly represent the community. Devitt says that already happens.
"All hospital boards are elected, it's a question of people who do the electing," he says. "Are they there on some skilled-based analysis? Or are they there because they paid to vote? And that is the nuance. A paid membership versus a skilled-based membership. I haven't really turned my mind to that question yet."
Devitt assures the public that the hospital board of directors will be elected based on expert opinion and best practices.
"The process is one of two streams; one where members pay a fee and that allows them to attend an annual meeting and elect directors and the other where the directors are the board members but they still have a nominating process. They still do community advertising but there the process is based on skill," says Devitt.
RELATED: Chatham-Kent Health Coalition Releases Hospital Survey Results