PHSA – BC’s Hidden 6th Health Authority & Why They’re Important

I’m betting you don’t know about British Columbia’s 6th Health Authority. Heck! Most of us are usually only aware of 2 – the one we live in that directly serves our needs and VIHA.

I believe it’s essential for all of us understand how #6 fits into the big picture, especially for obesity treatments including weight loss surgery options. They have major impact and influence over the provincial policies. So follow along with me as we take a closer look at the PHSA – (Provincial Heath Services Authority).

In December 2001, about six months after Campbell’s Liberals won a massive electoral majority, then-health minister Colin Hansen announced a major restructuring of health care delivery in the province. More than 50 health boards and bodies were collapsed into five large regional health authorities AND one sixth authority was established to oversee such stand-alone entities as the B.C. Cancer Agency and the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.

Today the Provincial Health Services Authority or PHSA (for short)  operates provincial agencies including BC Children’s Hospital, BC Transplant, and BC Cancer Agency. It is also responsible for specialized provincial health services like chest surgery and trauma services, which are delivered in a number of locations in the regional health authorities as well specialized programs that operate across several PHSA agencies. Also and most importantly, it recommends policy to the Government and other 5 Regional Authorities on long term future health challenges facing the Province. Should the government formalize treatment centres for weight loss surgery, it almost certain that the program would be administered by PHSA or at the very least, weight loss surgery policy would be directed by PHSA to the regional health authorities.

In 2009 Minister of Health, Kevin Falcon directed the PHSA to formulate long term policy for BC regarding the prevention and treatment of obesity, including weight loss surgery strategies. Some of the questions PHSA will be examining and potentially making recommendations on are:

• What are the medical requirements for a BC Resident to be considered for weight loss surgery?
• Should there be Provincial Centres of Excellence for weight loss surgery?
• How many? Where would they be located?
• Should obesity be considered a disease by BC Health Care Authorities?
• What should be funded first or prioritized? – prevention or treatment ?

As you can see from this list, the PHSA is in a decisive position that will result in future life or death decisions for many obese British Columbians.

Did you know that this June 3rd 2010, the PHSA recently held a Obesity Reduction Strategy Stakeholder Forum in Vancouver, British Columbia? (click here, to see what one attendee said about the forum) I’ve asked BCABA and several of our BC weight loss surgery doctors if they were invited. So far they’ve all responded in the negative.

I’ve also contacted the PHSA and asked to interview someone on the progress of their Obesity Reduction Strategy. No one returned my call so far. Last, but not least, I asked for the minutes and documentation from their recent Obesity Reduction Strategy Stakeholder Forum.  As you can guess, nothing so far L.

So what to do? – All of us can make a difference for the future regarding obesity strategy in BC by sending PHSA your thoughts on future policy on obesity and weight loss surgery treatment for British Columbians. Do NOT send them letters on why you can’t get your surgery now or wait times!! Your regional health authority or VIHA is responsible for that. Only send them info that you think is important for them to set future policy.

After searching through their executive list and board of directors,  I think the two people that letters on future BC obesity policy should be directed to are:

Brian Schmidt, Senior Vice President – he coordinates selected province-wide programs and services that are assigned to the PHSA by the Ministry of Health Services. He also supports change initiatives involving the Regional Health Authorities and specific Agencies and Programs within the PHSA.

Also Jennifer MacKenzie, Vice President, Strategic Planning, Transformation Support and Innovation - She is responsible for strategic planning, organizational performance management and supporting health care improvement initiatives with project management, change management and system and process improvement expertise.

Unfortunately PHSA does not make it “friendly” to contact their team. They don’t publish email addresses, so you have to use their “contact form” (which is what I used, but got no response). You could also Royal mail them at: 700 – 1380 Burrard Street. Vancouver, BC V6Z 2H3. For the really brave, I suspect their email address syntax is very similar to other health authorities, so you could try either of these 2 formats – (examples: brian.schmidt@phsa.ca or bschmidt@phsa.ca )

Go here, to see PHSA’s website

Here are the links to all the health authorities in BC.

• Northern Health
• Interior Health
• Vancouver Island Health Authority
• Vancouver Coastal Health
• Fraser Health
• Provincial Health Services Authority

View a map of all B.C. Health Authorities and visit the Contact page for location-specific information.

A Hospital Address List (PDF 141K) is also available.

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