Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) has announced its chief nursing executive, Jennifer Burns West, will serve as interim president and CEO when current leader, Veronica Nelson, leaves her position in September.
Board chair Irene Odell announced the news in a July 11 media release, calling Burns West “a trusted and visionary leader who brings tremendous experience, energy and compassion to everything” she does.
Also serving as vice president of clinical and community support services since her arrival in 2023, Burns West will assume the role Sept. 6.
Last month, HHHS announced Nelson, who joined on an interim basis in June 2023 before becoming a permanent staple that December, is leaving to rejoin Lindsay’s Ross Memorial Hospital.
The interim position was filled according to a succession plan the HHHS board of directors approved in September 2024, with Burns West first in line. Odell said Burns West made a “remarkable difference” after joining the organization almost two years ago.
“Jennifer has led key initiatives such as Trillium Gift of Life, HHHS’ transition of mental health services to the Minden Health Hub, collaborating with [Haliburton] EMS to roll out the Fit to Serve program, the creation of the women’s clinic and so much more,” HHHS communications lead, Lauren Ernst, said in an email.
She also oversaw the transition of Ontario Telemedicine Network, Diabetes Education Network, and Geriatric Assessment and Intervention Network (GAIN) to Epic – the regional electronic medical record used throughout hospitals in central east Ontario.
“Patients and clients now have access to their information through [a] patient portal,” Ernst noted.
“In addition, Jennifer led the expansion of palliative care for unattached patients (those without a primary care provider) as well as the implementation of the incident management system and electronic platform that captures patient, client and resident satisfaction, enabling our teams to leverage valuable data and improve care and service experiences,” she added.
With an interim leader announced, Ernst confirmed the board will conduct an extensive search for Nelson’s permanent replacement. A recruitment firm will be brought in to assist. Burns West will remain in the interim role until the hiring process wraps, though no timeline was provided.
Odell stated Burns West “brings forward thinking continuity to this position… her strong relationships across the organization, deep understanding of operations and unwavering commitment to high-quality care mean that our priorities remain clear, and our momentum continues.”
Asked how her hiring on an interim basis could impact HHHS’ master planning process and application to expand Hyland Crest Long-term Care home in Minden, HHHS said those journeys “will continue to evolve.”
Burns West will begin transitioning to her new role in August, with announcements regarding further interim positions expected in the coming weeks.
