LHSC bringing in executive who helped turn around Brockville hospital

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An executive who helped a Brockville hospital out of a financial hole is joining London Health Sciences Centre as it grapples with a projected $150-million deficit.

The board of directors at Brockville General Hospital announced Nick Vlacholias, the hospital’s president and chief executive officer, is taking a job at LHSC. 

Vlacholias has accepted an executive leadership position as vice-president and chief financial officer at LHSC, one of the largest teaching hospitals in Ontario where 59 managers were let go and another 71 demoted in the latest step of a restructuring aimed at balancing the books.

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Vlacholias is stepping down in November, the board of directors said Thursday. He has been president of Brockville General Hospital for seven years.

“Nick’s care for the community has been well established and demonstrated in his actions and words,” board chairman James Eastwood said in a statement.

“From keeping the community informed . . . every Monday morning on the local radio station, to forming partnerships with other organizations to do what is best for the community, his good nature and personality and, most importantly taking time to listen and understand the community’s needs and wants.”

Before coming to Brockville, Vlacholias worked for five years at Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario as its senior vice-president and chief financial officer.

He was hired at Brockville General in July 2017, when it was discovered the local facility was going through “extreme financial distress.”

In September 2016, officials revealed the facility was saddled with a $4.2-million deficit, forcing it to take out a $5.3-million loan from the Local Health Integration Network to help pay the bills.

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Soon after the hospital’s financial woes were uncovered, the province took the relatively rare step of appointing a supervisor to manage the facility. Vlacholias was one of the first ones hired to help turn things around.

At the time, he was not only entrusted with improving the financial picture, but he was further charged with instituting a culture change at a workplace that had experienced dwindling morale over the years.

In the seven years he worked in Brockville, he was successful in all these duties, Eastwood said.

“Under Nick’s leadership, Brockville General has seen remarkable progress to become one of the best and safest hospitals in Ontario,” the board said in a statement.

“What has been achieved in a short period of time is extremely unique in the history of the Ontario hospital system. From our new buildings and expanded services, our equipment renewal, financial stability with balanced operating results since 2017, leaders in medium size hospital advocacy, dealing with the global pandemic, our partnership with CHEO, renewed staff engagement, our innovative MRI building solution and rebuilding of our brand and image are certainly some highlights.”

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Eastwood said the board of directors will meet with Vlacholias over the next couple of weeks to establish a transition plan for his departure in November. 

In a statement Thursday, Vlacholias thanked the board and local leadership team, adding the successes they achieved could only have been done together.

 “These decisions are never easy, and timing will never be perfect, but this exciting opportunity to join the team in London comes at a time where Brockville General is on solid footing with an exceptional team to continue the journey in improving care for our patients and families across Leeds Grenville,” Vlacholias said. 

“My proudest moments have always been about our staff and their dedication and commitment in providing the best possible care to our community. A big thank you to all staff at Brockville General.” 

Vlacholias said he was grateful to Steve Clark, PC MPP for Leeds–Grenville–Thousands Islands and Rideau Lakes, for his advocacy for the hospital.

 Vlacholias also thanked Jim Cooper, who, along with David Beatty, was appointed in 2017 by the provincial supervisor as the board chairperson, and for many years “provided the wisdom, advice and stewardship that paved the success for the hospital,” he said.

 Vlacholias said though he was sad to leave, he was confident they had established a foundation for the hospital to “shine bright now and in the future.”

 “Exciting things have been set in motion and I will be watching the organization succeed even further,” he said.

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