While most of us see the election signs and know that there is a Municipal Election happening here in Saint John, when we cast our ballots, we will also be asked to elect a representative for the Regional Health Authority.
In my area, East Saint John, we fall into Region B subregion B4. This area actually runs all the way to Sussex.
This gives us four candidates to choose from:
Candidates:
| Name |
Sex |
| Donald Cullinan |
M |
| Erik F. C. Klein | M |
| Stephen N. McIntyre |
M |
| Mary Schryer |
F |
After researching the candidates in my area, I found one that simple stood out among the others. He has been raising a lot of great ideas – and after meeting him in person earlier week, I’m happy to show my support.
My Endorsement for Regional Health Authority (Region B - Subregion B4):
Dr. Erik F.C. Klein
Dr. Erik Klein is a chiropractor who practices in a clinic network stretching from Hampton to St. Stephen. Dr. Klein is running for the Regional Health Association board position for the zone between east Saint John and Sussex. Dr. Klein is engaging citizens to promote preventative healthcare policies and health promotion over the current band-aid solutions that are failing. Dr. Klein lives and breathes health, wellness, and dedication, while our current system is built on a bloated bureaucracy that refuses to budge.
Dr. Klein’s health administrative experience includes building and fostering four different health clinics from the ground up, hiring and attracting highly paid clinical talent to work in the province and employing numerous associate and administrative staff, some in communities hit hard by the economy.
Further, Dr. Klein is the team chiropractor for the Saint John Mill Rats Professional Basketball team, and in a volunteer capacity took the time to help co-ordinate the creation of the health and medical guidelines for the National Basketball League of Canada. Another unpaid position includes being the Chief Medical Officer for the 2013 IFAF world Women’s Football Championship in Saint John. This position involves coordinating on-field medical services, specialist services, and public health amongst others.
What are some thoughts that Dr. Klein has on fixing our current healthcare dilemma?
- We choose healthcare over bureaucracy
- Addressing integrative family practice programs such as family care teams.
- Yielding to the research and better utilize Nurse Practitioners
- We better engage home-care practitioners to get transitional seniors out of acute care beds.
- We use mid-stream triage programs to better identify surgical candidates to cut wait times.
- We purchase 3T MRIs for Saint John and Moncton, and one 1.5T for up north. Our population does not require more, and the savings pay for it.
- We utilize dieticians better for the general population in primary care.
- We DON’T elect professional politicians who held the reins and chose not to fight for people’s health.
You can read more about Eric and his ideas on his blog:
Endorsement disclaimer: The beautify of democracy is that you can vote for anyone you wish. If you agree with me, great. If you disagree with me, no problem – go vote for who you support. Whatever your thoughts – just vote!
Additional information is available here: NB 2012 Municipal Election Information.
Sometimes I forget that most people do not follow politics that closely. I’m often asked how voting works here in Saint John.
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