Highlights of the Board of Directors’ regular public meeting

The Board of Directors of Vitalité Health Network held its regular public meeting on Tuesday, October 28, in Edmundston. Below are the highlights of the session.

Three New Members Join the Board

The meeting marked the first public participation of three new board members: Misty LaBillois (Restigouche Zone), Janice Goguen (Beauséjour Zone), and Léo-Paul Pinet (Acadie-Bathurst Zone). Appointed by the Minister of Health, these members will represent their communities and contribute to the Network’s strategic governance.

Report by the President and CEO

In her report, Dr. France Desrosiers, President and CEO of the Network, presented the progress achieved in recent months, including:

- The development of Local Family Health Teams, aimed at increasing the number of patients with access to a primary care provider;

- The conversion of long-term care beds into transitional beds to better support patients whose condition no longer requires hospital care;

- The acceleration of medical recruitment, with positive results in several critical sectors;

- The creation of a centralized orthopedic intake system to improve the care pathway for patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis;

-  The continuation of the innovative digital pathology simulator project, which has attracted interest beyond the province.

For more details, the full quarterly report is available online on the Network’s website.

Testimonial: Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

The Board also heard the testimony of Rinette Parent, a patient who participated in the cardiac rehabilitation program in the Northwest Zone. This program offers personalized support combining exercise sessions and education to help patients adopt healthy lifestyle habits. An interdisciplinary team provides ongoing follow-up and support throughout recovery. Ms. Parent emphasized the importance of feeling supported and reassured after a cardiac event.

Presentation by the Northwest Regional Service Commission

The leadership of the Northwest Regional Service Commission presented several community health initiatives resulting from close collaboration with local partners:

• The Eat Fresh initiative distributed 5,000 fresh food bags in 2025 thanks to the involvement of 170 volunteers;
• The development of regional transportation has helped improve access to care;
• Financial incentives have been introduced to help attract new health professionals to the regio

The Board of Directors of Vitalité Health Network meets at least four times a year, and its meetings are open to the public. The next public meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., at 157 Water Street, Campbellton.