MORNING SESSION

Long-Term Care at a Crossroads: Delivering Affordable Capacity in a Constrained Market

Across British Columbia, long-term care (LTC) projects are facing a critical inflection point. Escalating project delivery costs – now approaching those of acute care in some cases – have compelled the provincial government to pause projects, delaying urgently needed capacity for an aging population. How can we do better? Can we draw on lessons from others who are meeting design standards and delivering at less cost? Where are the bottlenecks, and how can we address congestion, rising costs, and reduced access across the system?

The presentations and panel brings together leaders from planning, design and  construction and patient advocacy and public and not for profit operators to discuss how LTC can be delivered more efficiently, affordably and at scale. This is a high impact working session to share ideas with those participating in the room.

8:00 – 9:00 AM | Coffee & Light Continental Breakfast

9:00 – 9:15 AM AM | Introduction and Objectives for the Session

9:15 – 10:15 AM | Long-Term Care Beds Discussion 

Unpacking: Why are LTC public beds more expensive to deliver more than not-for-profits?

British Columbia is facing sustained pressure to deliver new LTC capacity. However:

• Project costs in some cases are approaching acute care cost levels
• Multiple projects have been delayed or paused due to affordability constraints, according to the Province
• There is significant inconsistency in project procurement

At the same time, NPO-led projects are reportedly achieving:

• Lower capital costs
• Comparable compliance with provincial standards
• Strong alignment with resident-centered care models

This raises important system-level questions regarding:

• Procurement and delivery models
• Risk allocation and financing structures
• Interpretation and application of standards
• Approvals and governance processes

The panel will share facts and information to identify from their perspectives surface drivers behind cost differences to help move towards improving freeing up bed capacity in a more timely and cost-effective manner to achieve a level of care that meets provincial design guidelines standards.

Lisa Dawson, President, Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC
Mark Blandford, President and CEO, Providence Living
Kirk Fisher, CEO, Lark Group
Scott McCarten, Vice-President, Capital Development, Providence Living
Diane Mackay, Chief Project Officer, Long-Term Care, Island Health
Mary Polak, CEO, BC Care Providers Association
Dan Levitt, Office of the Seniors Advocate, BC

BREAK 15 Minutes Break 

10:30 – 11:30 PM | Round Table Panel Discussions

11:30 – 12:00 PM | Sharing Recommendations and Close

Snacks following close of this session.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Breaking out of Silos: Leadership Thinking for Complex Healthcare Systems

1:00-3:30 PM | Purpose of the Session:

Healthcare leaders are increasingly required to think beyond the boundaries of their own portfolios, organizations, and disciplines. Budget constraints, integrated care models, capital planning pressures, and cross-authority collaboration demand a broader, more strategic way of thinking.

This session is limited to 25 participants, on a first come first served basis. 

This workshop is designed to help participants:

• Shift from siloed thinking to system thinking
• Explore how mindset influences decision-making in complex environments
• Generate new approaches to persistent challenges
• Build leadership capacity for collaboration across organizations
• Work more creatively within constraints rather than becoming limited by them

The session will be highly interactive and discussion-based, allowing participants to apply ideas directly to current challenges in healthcare facilities planning, design, and operations.

Suzanne Fox, Fox Den Consulting is delivering this training session.