New hospital president and CEO getting down to work

The new president and CEO of the Brant Community Healthcare System loves a challenge and draws inspiration from the late Nelson Mandela.

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“He faced tremendous challenges and was incarcerated for 27 years and despite that continued to have hope,” Bonnie Camm said. “He continued to have a vision of the future and then actually had the courage to pursue and achieve that vision.”

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Camm said the example set by the courage of the late South African anti-apartheid activist and statesman is one that can be followed as she takes over a healthcare system fraught with challenges.

The healthcare system, which includes Brantford General Hospital and the Willett Urgent Care Center in Paris, has infrastructure issues that include a sinkhole and failing boilers. And, like hospitals across Canada, the healthcare system is contending with a shortage of nurses, making recruitment an ongoing issue.

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The hospital’s emergency room is undergoing a major renovation and there are patients who ought to be elsewhere – at home or in a long-term care facility – taking up much-needed hospital beds. As well, paramedics find themselves spending hours parked at the hospital waiting to off-load patients.

Camm was hired to replace Erin Sleeth, who was named interim hospital president and CEO after David McNeil retired. She was previously the executive vice-president and chief operating officer in clinical services and before that held executive positions at William Osler Health System and University Health Network.

Camm earned a Master of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business, a Bachelor of Science degree in physical therapy and an Honors Bachelor of Arts in physical education from Western University. She started her healthcare career in physiotherapy.

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“I wanted to help people get better, that really was my passion, help people improve and have the quality of life that they could achieve,” Camm said. “Then, many, many years ago, I left healthcare and went into corporate banking and I can tell you that I purposely left that because it was not my calling.

“I really view healthcare as a calling and those of us in this field want to do the best we can to give every patient the quality of care they deserve.”

Camm has been on the job for about seven weeks and has been learning about the healthcare system and the community.

“One of the things that I did not know is that despite all of the challenges, the infrastructure issues, the population growth, the Brant Community Healthcare System achieved exemplary standing, which is the highest possible level for quality of care from Accreditation Canada.

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“I was very impressed with that.”

The accreditation tells her that the healthcare system has the processes and people in place to provide exemplary care, Camm said.

Asked to provide what’s on her ‘to do’ list, Camm said addressing the infrastructure needs – fixing the sinkhole and getting the new boilers in place, is a top priority.

She’s also making sure she meets with local leaders both within the healthcare system and in the community. It’s important to build relationships to help further the work of the healthcare system going forward.

As well, Camm said it’s imperative to have a strong senior leadership team in place to guide the healthcare system through the next several years.

“I’m very humbled and honored to be here as part of this team,” Camm said. “This is a great community and has tremendous opportunities ahead.

“I’m passionate about fostering quality care and continuous quality improvement and improvement.”

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