Risk Management Committee

HEALTH CARE PROTECTION PROGRAM

RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

The purpose of the Health Care Protection Program (HCPP) Risk Management Committee is to:

  • Provide input into the planning and management of HCPP;
  • Promote the delivery of education, communication and consultation / advisory service of HCPP;
  • Provide a forum for discussion and promote awareness of health care risk management issues; and
  • Consult on the settlement of claims.

MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES:

RISK MANAGEMENT HEALTH AUTHORITY REPRESENTATION

Vancouver Island Health Authority

Ms. Courtney Peereboom, RN BScN, MHSA
Director, Clinical Risk Management & Policy Stewardship

Courtney Peereboom is the Director, Clinical Risk Management & Policy Stewardship for Island Health.  In this role, Courtney is responsible for leading and providing oversight to the Enterprise Risk Management, Clinical Risk Management, Adult Guardianship and Policy Stewardship programs. Courtney joined Island Health in 2005. Prior to her current role, Courtney held various positions within Island Health and has experience in hospital operations, strategy, physician negotiations, program development and quality improvement.

Courtney is a registered nurse and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Victoria, a Master of Health Administration from Dalhousie University, and a Certificate of Clinical Risk Management from York University. She is currently completing the Canadian Risk Management Certificate/Designation from York University (will be completed July 2022). 

Northern Health Authority

Ms. Kirsten Thomson, BSc (Pharm), LLB, MBA, CRM
Regional Director, Legal Affairs, Enterprise Risk & Compliance

Kirsten Thomson is the Regional Director, Legal Affairs, Enterprise Risk & Compliance and Chief Privacy Officer for the Northern Health Authority. In this role, Kirsten is responsible for various programs, including Integrated Risk Management, Legislative Compliance, Privacy, Ethics, and Medical Assistance in Dying. Additionally, she has oversight responsibilities for the general risk management structure, claims management, adult guardianship, and the Patient Care Quality Office. Kirsten graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of British Columbia in 2002 and worked as a pharmacist at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia in Prince George before moving into Risk Management in 2011. Kirsten completed a Masters in Business Administration at the University of Northern British Columbia in 2008, the Canadian Risk Manager (CRM) certificate at the University of Toronto distance learning program in 2013 and a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of London (UK) in 2019.

Vancouver Coastal Health Authority

Ms. Rena Heathcote
Regional Director of Risk Management for Vancouver Coastal Health

Rena is responsible for the professional management and coordination of the risk management program at VCH, providing risk advice and support to the communities of care across VCH. Rena is a Registered Nurse Practitioner by background with clinical training/expertise in Adult and Pediatric Emergency departments. She also studied for a law degree at Warwick University in the UK and developed an appreciation of the complexities of the legal system, particularly in relation to medico–legal issues in clinical practice.   A graduate of BC Patient Safety & Quality Council Academy, Rena is a strong believer in promoting the application and integration of evidence-based risk management strategies to promote and improve patient safety.

Fraser Health Authority

Douglas Clouden AIC, CRM
Risk Management Services Leader at Fraser Health

In this role, Douglas is responsible for managing potential and actual property and casualty claims against the organization, including providing risk management advice to individuals and teams.  Douglas has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry in both the US and Canada in the public and private sectors as an Adjuster, Investigator, and Broker. His expertise includes strategic advice and guidance in coverage disputes, negotiations and resolutions.  Douglas holds a Bachelor of Arts in Health, Behavior, and Society from the University of Rochester, New York and the following designations.  Associate in Claims (AIC) and Canadian Risk Management (CRM). 

Annette Bieberstein CFE, CRM, RF
Leader, Risk Management Services at Fraser Health Authority

Annette has over 20 years of experience in various leadership roles working with large, complex organizations to design and execute pragmatic enterprise risk management and resiliency solutions to meet business outcomes (specifically working in the financial, insurance, regulatory and health care sectors). As a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), with both the Canadian Risk Management (CRM) and Risk Fellow (RF) designations, she has an extensive risk management background. Past board experience includes various roles on the Vancouver Chapters of the Institute of Internal Auditors, Certified Fraud Examiners as well as, the Risk & Insurance Management Society — B.C. Chapter. Annette was an instructor at Simon Fraser University teaching risk management as part their continuing education program and has spoken at various events including past IIA Women in Leadership and RIMS Canadian Conference held in Winnipeg.

Interior Health Authority

Jennifer Miller, PhD, CE
Corporate Director, Privacy, Policy & Risk Management

Dr. Jennifer Miller is the Corporate Director of Privacy, Policy, and Risk Management for Interior Health.  She provides leadership of the organization’s risk management framework, policies, and enterprise risk management program.  Jen holds a Doctorate in Kinesiology & Biomedical Physiology from Simon Fraser University and has 20 years’ experience leading initiatives that support transparency, ethics, and evidence-informed decision making in health, academic and private sectors.

Provincial Health Services Authority

Ms. Norna Waters BSN MSN CRM
Senior Director Integrated Risk Management

Norna Waters is the Senior Director Integrated Risk Management for Provincial Health Services Authority. Norna provides leadership to the Integrated Risk Management program at PHSA and also provides clinical risk management support to various Programs and Services within PHSA. Norna is a registered nurse and holds both a Bachelor and Masters of Science in Nursing and has experience as a direct care perinatal nurse. Norna has obtained her CRM designation from the University of Toronto.

Providence Health Care Society

Ms. Camille Ciarniello, BSN, JD
Executive Director, Patient Safety & Quality Improvement and In-House Counsel

Camille Ciarniello is the Corporate Director, Quality, Patient Safety, Patient Relations, Risk Management, Accreditation, End of Life and Infection Prevention and Control for Providence Health Care. Besides providing advice to health care providers on risk issues particular to clinical care, Camille has developed a patient safety program with a focus on just culture, transparency and accountability that encourages the adoption of evidence based best practices in high-risk areas and seeks to improve communication at all levels of care. She is also a faculty member at the Institute for Healthcare Communication in their Disclosure of Unanticipated medical Outcomes program.

Camille graduated from Nursing in 1982 and practiced as a critical care nurse for 18 years. She obtained her Baccalaureate in Nursing and law degree from UBC and was called to the BC bar in 1999. She worked for several years in private practice before the opportunity arose to combine her two areas of expertise. She obtained her Patient Safety Officer certification from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in 2004.

Leanne Dospital (she/her), BA, MA
Director, Risk Management and Infection Prevention and Control

Leanne Dospital joined Providence Health Care as the Director, Risk Management and Infection Prevention and Control in January 2022. Prior to this Leanne was the Advocate for Service Quality for 5 years where she reported directly to the Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction about systemic issues facing youth and adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). She was a member of the Minister’s Reimagining Community Inclusion steering committee and co-chaired the health and wellness working group that recommended actions needed to improve equity and access to health and mental health services for people with IDD.

For 5 years prior to becoming the Advocate, Leanne managed the provincial Assessment and Investigation Services and Health Care Decisions for the Public Guardian and Trustee. She was the management lead on a two-year legislative change project that introduced changes to the Adult Guardianship Act and Regulation.

Leanne has experience in human rights investigations, managing disability programs, and was a program and governance volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross for 25 years.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH REPRESENTATION

Mr. Thomas Guerrero
Executive Director, Corporate Issues and Client Relations

Thomas Guerrero is the Executive Director of the Corporate Issues and Client Relations Branch with the Ministry of Health. He held this portfolio since 2017. Prior to that Thomas served as the Director for the Patient Care Quality Review Boards for eight years. His branch is responsible for the provincial response and coordination of all significant adverse events, in addition it provides support across the Ministry of Health for client relations, corporate documents support, FOI, litigation and issues management. The branch also provides resourcing and budgetary oversight for the Patient Care Quality Review Boards. Thomas began working in the public service in 2003 with Cabinet Operations in the Premier’s Office.

Updated: May 2022