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4- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, March 18, 1997 Lad, oud "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" David Brown leaving hospital after 23 years at helm as CEO By Heather McCrae The Port Perry Star When David Brown was hired as the CEO at the Community Memorial Hospital in February 1974, his intentions were to work there for a few years before mov- ing on to manage a larger medical facility. But it didn't work out that way. Instead, Mr. Brown's remained at the hospital. And, now, after serving the medical institution and community for 23 years, he's retiring at the end of this month. His early retirement comes at a time when drastic changes are taking place in the provinces health care system. Locally, as of April 1, Port Perrys Community Memorial Hospital and the Cottage Hospital in Uxbridge will be merging and known as the North Durham Hospital Corporation. Also, immediately after Mr. Brown leaves, Guy Kirvan will be taking over the reins as chief administrator on April 1. Mr. Brown has many wonderful memories of his 23 year term as CEO at the Community Memorial Hospital. Over the years he's worked with a total of 60 different hospital board members, 11 board chairs and 10 different hospital auxiliary presidents. Starting with Grace Love, the board chair when he was hired, the other chairs Mr. Brown's worked with have been Howard Hall, Grant MacDonald, Jim Marlow, Sheldon Smith, Joy Hull, David Muir, Rodd Foster, Ted Griffen, Kent Farndale and currently, Jerry Taylor. Mr. Brown says he's always been impressed with the quality of people who've served on the hospital or auxili- ary boards. "I've had good relations with them all. All were different in their own way but I felt they all had the best interests of the hospital," he said. During Mr. Brown's tenure at the local hospital, he's been instrumental in a number of projects, including pre- paration for the hospital's initial accreditation in the mid-70s and guiding the way for hospital expansions in 1985 and 1995. "When we were fully accredited it was an emotional time for the hospital staff," he says. "To know we met with national criteria standards, well, it was something like winning the Stanley Cup." And being able to help celebrate the hospital's 50th anniversary was a truly memorable event, too. "It's been a real challenge to manage a small institu- tion," he says. "You have to have a lot more knowledge than if you're managing a bigger institution. "But, I've enjoyed it. The CEO's position is more challenging today than it's ever been. Because of the upcoming merger it will cer- tainly be more challenging to pull together two different staffs, and combine two facilities into one. Although Mr. Brown doesn't have a crystal ball he is positive about the future of the North Durham Hospital Corporation. "I believe it will be in business here produc- ing a good range of health care services to North Durham and will be able to continue to serve the primary care needs. Things are changing dramatically in our health care system, he says and there's going to be a lot more uphea- ~ val and change. Hopefully the staff and the public can roll with these changes. Although Mr. Brown feels the Harris government is, in the end, going to improve the health care systems, it hasn't been easy over the last several months. "The Ontario Health Services Restructuring Commission is cutting budgets, at the same time they're asking for restructure. That's hard. The difficulty is we, the hospital, need to have our budgets intact while we restructure." The thought of a merger came from within the Durham Region Acute Care Study two years ago when there was talk of a Northern health network. The Ministry of Health made it known the two institutions (Port Perry and Uxbridge) should talk about merging. So the two boards got together and made that decision, Mr. Brown says. "The Joint Service Planning Committee had been talk- ing about this for a year," Mr. Brown said. And while he was in support of a merger, he was also supportive of the hiring of a new CEO, knowing full well he would have to resign and take early retirement. Although Mr. Brown has met Guy Kirvan, the newly appointed CEO, at OHA functions, he doesn't know him personally. However, he feels Mr. Kirvan is the right man for the job. "He's been at the helm of hospi- tals for almost the same time I've been here," he says. No doubt, he'll be up to this challenge, as he's used to that type of environment Community Memorial Hospital Dieendy he CEO David Brown retiring. Says. Currently the CEO at the County of Bruce General Hospital, Mr. Kirvan is managing two hospital sites and is also involved in the amalgamation of four hospitals. "It's difficult to leave, to pull yourself away. After work- ing this many years at one institution you get to feel like it's 'your place," he says. He's often asked what his initial plans are after April 1. "Well, my wife, Glenda, has many plans, including me doing some projects around our home in Oshawa. Then it will be time to spend the summer at our cottage." Looking forward to spending more time with their grand- son, he also likes to tinker with his old car. "I guess if I get bored, at 55, I might look for a part time job. I get a lot of teasing - many say I'm too young for retirement, but I don't think so," he smiles. "Port Perry has been like a second home town to me. The community has been very kind." And he'll definitely be dropping in at the hospital for a visit periodically. "I have a lot of friends in the community and want to keep these contacts." A celebration dinner is being held at Kedron Dells Golf Club on March 26. The next day a farewell tea is being held for Mr. Brown from 2 to 4 p.m. at the hospital. 7 . Igog on a February. growing by three in January. There were a total of 302 social - assistance cases in February, down . from the 303 in January. = "The number of General Welfare Assistance (GWA) cases remained ~ the same at 178, while the decline of The ~ Family Benefit Assistance (FBA) Stonemoor Day Care Port Perry Nursery School openings 985-0800 available Uxbridge 852-3510 Non-profit organization Contact Karen 985-0890 ~ While the province noticed a slight increase in welfare caseloads over the past month, Scugog saw a - very slight decrease -- one case -- in - 0.1 per cent, or 768 cases, while tinued to fal or © per cent -- four cases fro - caseloads to 8,397. This, h in the first month on 1991 siderably down from February | when there were 10,843 GWA a rease in February coritinued as the number of depend- ents went from 125 to 124. The Durham Region continued to report ups and downs as once again +. the numbers for single recipients . Ontario's caseloads increased by y claim increased, and family claims con- all. 8 down from the 2.3 per , lowest February increase the pro- oo Yinse has experienced over the past Kelly, Zuly, Greenway, Bruce BARRISTER AND SOLICITORS 114 King St. E., Oshawa 723-2278 3] During February 1997 FBA claims in the region fell 45 cases to 5,337 down from 5,422 the previous month. This is also a large reduction | from 'the 7,118 cases in February 1995 . Since then 1,741 cases have ymmunity and Social Services ter months. She added that this was the Motor Vehicle - Criminal - Personal Injury Wills - Real Estate - Family Law Corporate & Commercial Evenings and Weekends by Appointment A ncrease usually occurs in the Thieves make off with narcotics Durham Regional Police report that the Port Perry Pharmacy was broken into on March 13. A call came in at 9:28 p.m., and police were sent to the store where they found the front door inse- cure. It was noted that the thieves were profession- als, as they quickly entered the building and made their way to the back of store, to the drug section. Once there, they gained entry to the locked cabi- nets and made off with a quantity of narcotics and pain killers. COUNTERFEIT BILL Durham Police are warning businesses to be on the lookout for fake bills. A counterfeit $10 bill showed up at Mr. Sub on March 15 around 10 p.m. The serial number is BDB2532938. Are You Being Squeezed by Today's Low Interest Rates? Talk with Investment Advisor Robert J. 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