ST. PAUL – Following the retirement of the former site manager at the St. Therese-St. Paul Healthcare Centre, a new face has taken the lead position at the local hospital.
Jamie Malone, the new site manager, aims to bring her wealth of experience to the role. That role, primarily, is to support Alberta Health Services’ (AHS) operations at the hospital and the community. Michelle Blanchette, previous site manager, retired in late 2022 after more than a decade at the helm.
In a statement to Lakeland This Week, Malone says her partner is from St. Paul, which made relocating to the community appealing. “Together, we have five younger children who always ensure our lives stay interesting and fun, daily.”
Growing up in Nelson, B.C., Malone and her family are outdoor enthusiasts. “We enjoy camping, fishing, and sledding.”
“We’re very excited about the opportunities this area offers and look forward to exploring the terrain and having some local adventures,” she says.
Goals and Responsibilities
As a site manager, Malone says it is “foundationally important that I fully understand and appreciate the responsibilities of my role and accountabilities to the rural community members that we serve.”
“Providing high quality care, delivered to the people of St. Paul and area is what gets me to work every day,” she explains. She finds fulfillment in seeing Albertans receive needed health care, “and being part of the system that provides it.”
“I genuinely want our community to feel safe and cared for within our system.”
Providing healthcare professionals with support is also a must for Malone. “I am inspired by our amazing healthcare teams, and I want them to know they are supported,” she says, explaining her belief in honesty and being approachable as a leader.
According to Malone, if healthcare professionals feel appreciated under caring leadership, it should in turn help them “feel more engaged” and better able to provide quality care with compassion.
“The concept of just culture and teamwork are the basis of what I do,” she says. This involves promoting open dialogue and helping ensure “everyone’s voice is heard.”
"Our patients and their families are valued partners and I want to hear their experiences and feedback.”
While she has not been in St. Paul for too long, Malone says it quickly became clear to her that “St. Therese has a wonderful group of caring and skilled healthcare providers.”
Building relationships
One of her goals in her new role is to build a trusting relationship with community partners through “increased communication, awareness and mutual understanding.”
“I look forward to working with the St. Paul & District Hospital Foundation, the Town and County of St. Paul, and other groups regarding service planning and support for fundraising, which enhances healthcare services in the area.”
She wants the hospital to be a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome, and a place where patients can feel safe and confident while receiving quality care.
“I want to help build community confidence in our healthcare team and foster hope for the future,” she says. “We are continuously improving how we maintain and innovate to ensure sustainable healthcare services for the communities we serve.”
The Connect Care health information network is one example according to Malone.
Connect Care allows healthcare providers and patients “easy and comprehensive access” to up-to-date patient information in a single patient record, she says.
“The provincial system is gradually being implemented right across Alberta, including St. Paul, bringing single health records to patients of the region for the first time. Our teams are currently training on Connect Care and will be introducing it into the hospital this fall,” she explains.
Recruitment and Retention
Malone also touched on the challenges facing the healthcare system in the province, including recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals. She says that recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals is an issue “that’s top of mind for many.”
It is an issue not unique to St. Paul, “but right across North America,” according to Malone.
“AHS is experiencing recruitment challenges throughout Alberta, especially in areas outside of main urban centres,” she says. “Rural vacancies have contributed to a lack of resources in these communities and various disruptions in service.”
In an effort to address these challenges, Malone says AHS created a website focused on rural care through its AHS Careers Site – implementing “a variety of short and long-term strategies to support recruitment.”
She adds that she strongly believes in the "grow your own" concept, which involves providing educational opportunities to help train future healthcare providers in their home communities.
Malone hopes to work with educational institutions, including local high schools, and will be tapping into her previous experiences, which includes a previous role in Wainwright where she developed “a four-year Rural Registered Nurse (RN) bachelor’s degree program.”
It was the first of its kind in the province, she says. And it was made possible by working with the University of Calgary and the Town of Wainwright.
"I have been welcomed to this community warmly with open arms, [and] I look forward to continuing to develop positive relationships, both in my work environment and as a resident of this great rural community.”
