September 2010
A dynamic new division joins PHSA
A message from Lynda Cranston, PHSA President & CEO
Health Shared Services BC (HSSBC) officially became part of PHSA on Friday, September 17th, 2010. In addition to assuming legal and fiduciary responsibility for HSSBC as of that date, we were very pleased to welcome the first group of staff who transferred into PHSA from across the regional health authorities and Providence Health Care (PHC).
Health Shared Services BC, a Division of the PHSA, is the new name for what was originally established as the BC Health Authority Shared Services Organization (SSO). In December 2007, SSO was created by the health authorities to enhance value to the health system through effective and efficient delivery of specified support services. Since that time, the SSO matured and expanded as an organization. Today, the division is accountable for Supply Chain across all six health authorities including Accounts Payable for IH, PHSA and VCH-PHC, Technology Services for FH, PHSA and VCH-PHC, Payroll and Accounts Receivable for VCH-PHC and PHSA.
HSSBC will continue to expand its province-wide service offering in the months ahead. As the HSSBC continues to grow, the health authorities recognized that it is necessary to ensure the appropriate systems and supports are in place to enable its effective operations as a substantial business entity. By transferring into PHSA, HSSBC can benefit from our infrastructure and systems. The decision also leverages PHSA’s role in providing services across the province.
Employees providing HSSBC services are in the process of becoming employees of PHSA. The first group to transition was 150 management and non-contract staff. Approximately 1500 unionized employees from the five regional health authorities and PHC, and non-contract Technology Services staff from Fraser Health, will make their transition to PHSA on October 15th, 2010.
Health Shared Services BC is a unique initiative for the province. The division is designed in a way that enables health authorities to achieve more collectively than they could independently. HSSBC has already had tremendous success at delivering on its mandate. Its work contributes to sustaining care and service across the province through the efficiencies and savings they generate. Initially, the projected savings from a provincially integrated service model were estimated at $150 million in the first five years. As of today, the projected total for HSSBC’s first five years of operation (Feb 09 – Mar 2014), is almost $200 million, which will surpass the $150 million in savings first identified by SSO This is money that goes back to all of the health authorities to support their work.
As part of its launch as a new division of PHSA, HSSBC is rolling out its new branding. It also has a new website at www.hssbc.ca where you can find out more.