RENREW — Randy Penney, President and CEO of Renfrew Victoria Hospital and St. Francis Memorial Hospital in Barry’s Bay, has won Canada’s 2016 Regent’s Award, which recognizes health care management excellence.
Mr. Penney accepted the award from The Canadian chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) at the Ontario Hospital Association’s Health Achieve 2016 Convention in Toronto on Tuesday, November 8.
The award honours ACHE members in health care leadership positions who are committed to excellence in their service to their health care organizations, community volunteer groups, and/or the Canadian Chapter of ACHE. Award criteria include those who have made contributions that have an unparallelled impact on their organization, community of the Canadian chapter of ACHE, those who adhere to a standard of professionalism that serves as a model for others, and those who demonstrate creativity and initiative when improving procedures, practices and productivity, among other things.
“It is a great honour to be chosen among my peers for this prestigious award,” Mr. Penney said after the award announcement. “But I must thank my colleagues in health care and in other organizations who have worked with me over the years to build innovative, cost-effective and sustainable partnerships that benefit all members of our community. These valuable and long-lasting collaborations are in themselves a great reward.”
In a letter supporting Mr. Penney’s nomination for the award, Dr. Jack Kitts, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital, said: “I believe that Randy’s most important contribution relates to his ability to collaborate and form partnerships to enhance the health care services available in his communities such as dialysis, diagnostic imaging and cancer care. In addition,” Dr. Kitts added, “Randy’s commitment as a well-respected surveyor with Accreditation Canada benefits greatly hospitals across the country and internationally.”
Cholly Bolland, CEO of the Winchester District Memorial Hospital, wrote, “Due to his dynamic leadership ability, strategic foresight, passion and engaging personality, Randy is widely respected in the communities he serves as a health care leader, throughout the hospital and health care sectors, and by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.”
Since becoming President and CEO in 1989, Mr. Penney has overseen major expansion and redevelopment at RVH. Capital projects have included the construction of a new regional nephrology centre and major redevelopment throughout RVH, as well as the ongoing construction of a new medical professional building on the RVH campus. Mr. Penney is also the CEO of St. Francis Memorial Hospital in Barry’s Bay and has been committed to maintaining and expanding services in that community.
“Over the years, I have had the pleasure of working with two great hospitals in Renfrew and Barry’s Bay,” Mr. Penney said. “Recognition such as this is only possible as a result of the wonderful Boards, staff and physicians that I have had the pleasure of working with.”
Mr. Penney’s vision and leadership also brought about several partnerships with other organizations in the community to link programs, and to bring professional expertise and extended services to patients locally.
Mr. Penney has served as an accreditation surveyor with Accreditation Canada since 1992, past Chair of the Surveyor Advisory Committee and is also a surveyor with the International Society of Quality in Health Care worldwide.
In 2011, Mr. Penney received the Trudeau Medal, the highest honour awarded to alumni of the Telfer School of Management at University of Ottawa, recognizing outstanding leadership, initiative and contributions to the world of business and the community.
