Kincaid named new chief nursing officer for SBGHC
By Barb McKay
Kincardine’s director of patient care has been named chief nursing officer for the South Bruce Grey Health Centre (SBGHC).
Kate Kincaid learned last week that she has been promoted to the role, following the retirement of vice-president of clinical services, Dianne Waram. The outgoing executive member retired Jan. 31 after a decades-long career with the SBGHC and hospitals in Walkerton and Chesley. She most recently filled in as interim CEO following the departure of former CEO Paul Davies.
Last month, the SBGHC announced that it would be merging four of its executive positions into two positions in an effort to cut costs and address a projected $125,000 deficit this year. The new chief nursing officer position combines the roles of clinical services and support services executives. Kincaid, one of four nursing leads, applied for the job and was successful.
“Kate brings exceptional leadership experience to this new role at SBGHC that will help us to adapt to a changing health care environment as well as meet our quality health care goals,” SBGHC president and CEO Paul Rosebush said in a media release.
Kincaid, a Kincardine resident, comes to the role with a solid foundation in the nursing field. Her grandmother was a nurse and her mother was a director of nursing. Kincaid started her career as a nurse’s aid at the Kincardine hospital and then worked as a registered nurse. In 2008 she joined the SBGHC as director of patient care for Kincardine.
Kincaid said she will continue with her duties in her current role and is looking forward to taking on new responsibilities.
“I’m excited about it,” she said. “My challenge will be balancing my time and schedule.”
Kincaid will attend corporate board meetings and will participate as the nurse leader on the SBGHC’s medical advisory committee. She will also represent the health centre on a regional nursing committee and with the South West Local Health Integration Network.
She will be jumping into her new job with both feet, beginning with the 2013 budget and preparing for an accreditation review in the spring. Her broad background in budgeting will help her allocate funds for nursing between the four hospitals.
“The funding envelope we receive for clinical nursing is a large one,” she noted.
Kincaid also plans to launch an initiative that will strengthen nursing between the Kincardine,
art will be forming a nursing leadership group with the other nursing leaders within the corporation,” she said.