The president of a health care advocacy group says the role is very important
Western Quebec’s health authority is still looking for a new CEO five months after putting out a call for candidates.
The top job at the The Integrated Health and Social Services Center of the Outaouais(CISSSO) hasn’t had a person in it since May 2022. Yves St-Onge, who used to be president and deputy director, has been acting as CEO since January.
Even though people have been trying to find the right person, no one has been chosen yet, so a second call for applicants has just started.
For Denis Marcheterre, head of a group that fights for better health care,Action santé Outaouais, it’s not surprising in the least.
“Maybe it’s to be expected, since it’s hard to find someone in Outaouais with enough knowledge and enough drive,” he said in French.
“It’s not an easy job, and there aren’t a lot of people who want to do it.”
Marcheterre told Radio-Canada that the situation is not too scary because there is an interim CEO. But the large amount of turnover is worrying.
“This job has been held by a number of people in just a few years,” he said.
“It’s a little scary and a little interesting, because it adds to the organization’s instability. And that’s not good for the people who use it or for the people who work in health care.”
Could make over $280,000 a yea
Marcheterre said that the CEO position is very important for the health authority because they act as a link between doctors, patients, the health network, and Quebec’s Ministry of Health.
The job description says that the salary range is between $218,223 and $283,693 per year.Applications for the job will be accepted until September 8.
CISSSO said it didn’t have anyone available for an interview, and the ministry didn’t respond to Radio-Canada’s request for comment in time for publication.
Marcheterre said that the person who gets the job has to go before a committee, go through several interviews and approvals, and even get approval from Quebec’s cabinet members.
He said that steps should be taken to make sure that the next CEO stays in charge for more than a few years. He also said that the way people are hired might be a factor because it is “perhaps a little too bureaucratic.”
“It’s long, as expected. But there are a lot of steps to take, and in the end, you wonder if it was worth it,” Marcheterre said.