When Duncan Campbell joined Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (VCH) in 2008 as CFO and vice-president, systems development, the authority was teetering on the edge of financial disaster.
Gripped in the recession, belts tightened throughout the provincial government and the authority’s annual funding increase was slashed to 2.6% in 2008/2009 from 6.9% the year prior.
But under Campbell’s direction, the authority found new efficiencies that allowed it to meet increased demand despite lower funding, and eliminated a $20-million structural deficit.
“Duncan has played a pivotal role in the transformation of the organization’s fiscal landscape within a severely constrained provincial funding envelope that, given its trajectory at the time, would have meant financial disaster and either a bailout or reduced services,” VCH president and CEO David Ostrow said, nominating Campbell.
Campbell helped VCH reduce $25 million in administrative and support costs and updated supply chain reporting and analysis, leading to better use practices and lower purchase prices. In addition, he was the force behind new reporting tools for improved bed tracking, which allowed VCH to reduce hours per patient day and overtime, while keeping services constant.
Campbell established workforce productivity initiatives that raised productivity by 3.5%, allowing VCH to keep its employee base static for the past three years, despite growth in activity. This has resulted in $30 million in cost-avoidance annually.
Additionally, he focused on cash management, restoring VCH’s cash to $100 million now from $25 million in 2008. As a testament to Campbell’s leadership, external auditors have found no financial and activity control weaknesses at the last two year-ends. •
