Island Health extends appointment of administrator at Comox Valley Seniors Village

Island Health is extending the temporary appointment of an administrator to oversee the day-to-day operations of Comox Valley Seniors Village.

On March 27, Island Health’s Board of Directors extended the temporary appointment for an additional period of at least four months, to at least July 31, 2020 after reviewing the recommendation from the North Island Medical Health Officer.

“All seniors living in publicly-funded long-term care homes deserve high-quality, safe and dignified care,” said Leah Hollins, Island Health Board Chair. “While there has been progress made towards meeting legislated care standards at this site, the Medical Health Officer was clear that ongoing support is needed.”

The Medical Health Officer’s recommendation to extend the appointment was based on detailed reports from site administrator Susan Abermann and Island Health’s Community Care Facilities Licensing program. Both Ms. Abermann and Licensing recommended an extension of the appointment.

The Medical Health Officer found that while there has been considerable progress towards meeting legislated standards of care at Comox Valley Seniors Village, the site required an additional period of administration to ensure sustainable systems and staffing can be maintained beyond the administrator’s appointment.

Ms. Abermann will remain as the site’s administrator and will continue to report to the Island Health Board of Directors. She will continue to provide comprehensive leadership of the daily operation and management of the facility.

Ms. Abermann was initially appointed as administrator at Comox Valley Seniors Village on September 30, 2019 for a period of at least six months, ending March 31, 2020. The appointment by the Board of Directors was based on a recommendation from the North Island Medical Health Officer and followed a detailed investigation by the Licensing program.

The Community Care and Assisted Living Act stipulates that operators must demonstrate ongoing progress towards system stability and compliance, to the satisfaction of the administrator, Licensing and the Medical Health Officer, before an administrator is removed from a site.

Comox Valley Seniors Village is a privately owned 136-bed long-term care facility operated by Pacific Reach Seniors Housing Management operating as West Coast Seniors Housing Management, which is part of the Retirement Concepts group of companies. Island Health publicly funds 120 of the beds.

A backgrounder summarizing the Medical Health Officer’s recommendation is here: Backgrounder.

About Island Health:
Island Health provides health care and support services to more than 800,000 people on Vancouver Island, the islands in the Salish Sea and the Johnstone Strait, and mainland communities north of Powell River. With more than 22,000 staff and over 2,000 physician partners, 6,000 volunteers, and the dedicated support of foundations and auxiliaries, Island Health delivers a broad range of health services, including: public health services, primary health care, home and community care, mental health and addictions services, acute care in hospitals, and much more across a huge, geographically diverse region.

Media inquiries:
Dominic Abassi
250.755.7966
Dominic.Abassi@islandhealth.ca