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The Department provides
support services to six Regional Institutional Boards, four Regional
Health and Community Services Boards, two Regional Integrated Boards and
one Regional Nursing Home Board in St. John's. The actual delivery
of programs and services including Health Promotion, Disease Prevention,
Child, Youth and Family Services and Community Corrections, Family and Rehabilitative
Services, Addictions, Mental Health and Continuing Care are provided by
community health boards. The institutional boards deliver hospital
services and long term accommodations to persons 65 years and older and
persons suffering from chronic debilitating diseases. There are
also a number of agencies directly accountable to the Department
including the Memorial University
of Newfoundland Medical School, and the Newfoundland
and Labrador Centre for Health Information.
The total Departmental
budget allocation is about $1.2 billion which represents one third of
all government spending. About $800 million goes to support the
13,000 full time equivalent jobs in the service industry sector with
about 640 physicians receiving fee for service and about 300 receiving
fixed salaries.
Over the past year the
Department has been reorganized to provide more efficient input into
policy and program development and supports to boards and
agencies. There are currently 175 full time positions in the new
organization. The organizational structure is comprised of five
branches with 15 divisions:
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The Board Services branch
provides overall relations with the government-funded regional
boards, the co-ordination of their service, the identification of
service quality improvements, and has program responsibility for
road and air ambulance and other emergency services in the Province.
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The Policy and Program Services
branch provides the overall policy and program development functions
of the Department, strategic planning for the health and community
services system, and applied research and evaluation activities.
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Government & Agency Relations
has extensive involvement with intergovernmental activity at the
federal-provincial levels, legislative and regulation review
responsibility as well as interaction with the many professional
associations, voluntary and consumer advocacy groups active in the
health and community services sector in the Province.
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The Support Services branch is
responsible for the overall administrative, financial, human
resource, claims management and information management services of
the Department, including all financial arrangements with, and
financial monitoring of, government-funded regional health boards.
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The Medical Services branch is
responsible for the Department's mandate related to the provision of
medical services, disease control, epidemiology, environmental
health and pharmaceutical services.
Foundational
Statements
The World
Health Organization definition of "health" is the
foundation for the Vision, Mission and Values Statements as well as the
Lines of Business. It states:
Health is a state of
complete physical, mental, social well-being and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity.
Vision
All Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians will enjoy optimal health. ("Optimal health"
refers to maximizing an individual's health and well-being in the
context of their life and its limitation.)
Mission
The Department of Health and
Community Services will ensure that the people of Newfoundland and
Labrador have access to services and programs enabling individuals,
families and communities to achieve optimal health.
Values
We believe...
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that all
individuals deserve fairness, respect, and privacy.
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that all
individuals deserve the right to participate in making decisions
that affect them in their pursuit of health and well-being.
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in quality
programs and services responsive to the needs of individuals,
families and communities.
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in a
competent and committed workforce fostered through an appreciation
for individuals, team work and strong leadership.
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in
developing and supporting partnerships to enhance the health and
well-being of individuals, families and communities.
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in being
accountable to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Business
Lines
1.
Policy
and Program Development
The Department will lead the
development, planning, research and evaluation of provincial policies
and programs to ensure that services are integrated and evidence-based.
2.
Support
to Boards and Agencies
The Department will provide
direction and support to agencies and regional boards to deliver a
continuum of programs and services within available resources.
3.
Departmental
Support Services
The Department will maintain
organizational structures, functions and resources to support the
Department's mission.
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