PHILIPSBURG--Glen Carty will be stepping down as Director of Social and Health Insurances SZV as of December 31, 2018, it was stated in a press release over the weekend.
According to the release, Carty sees his task as a “turnaround specialist” at the insurance service provider as nearing completion, given that several tasks he had been assigned are now nearing completion and the SZV 3.0. Strategic Plan is in execution phase.
Carty was appointed by Governor Eugene Holiday by National Decree on August 1, 2016, after successfully completing the required Category A screening of the National Security of St. Maarten.
“Glen’s contributions to the country and SZV have been tremendous and greatly appreciated. Both Glen and I agreed that with the hospital entering another phase of its development and the progress made on SZV’s strategic plan, it makes sense to begin the recruitment process for a new General Director. I have asked that Glen stay on until the end of the year to allow for a proper and transparent transition,” Health Minister Emil Lee said in the release.
Lee will discuss the recruitment procedures for a new SZV Director with the SZV Supervisory Board and support the recruitment process to be carried out by the Board. It is the intention for the new Director to work alongside Carty for the final months of the year to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of activities once formally appointed by January 1, 2019.
Lee asked Carty to remain Director until December 31 to focus on expediting the SZV 3.0. Strategic Plan and for SZV to assist in ensuring that the objectives set for the second phase of the new general hospital are met without further delay.
Carty initiated the tripartite collaboration for the new general hospital and has been one of the key stakeholders involved in the development of the new facility’s business plan, the release said. Medical referrals abroad are one of the major expenses for SZV. This cost now exceeds NAf. 40,000,000 per year.
Lee said he has been monitoring the progress of the execution of the SZV 3.0 strategic plan which is aimed at improving the organisation’s quality of service and operational management. To gain an independent review of the operations at SZV, Lee contracted Government Accounts Bureau SOAB to conduct a performance audit for the years 2011 to 2016, which included reviews of compliance, internal control methods, measuring mechanisms, investment policies, management of operational cost, etc.
The report indicates that there is still much room for improvement to be done by SZV. However, the findings are that the implementation of the five-year 3.0 Strategic Plan is showing positive developments.
Lee said Carty’s Director Performance Contract for 2018 will focus on areas of attention as outlined in the strategic plan and the SOAB report, such as improving automation of processes, cost-reduction in operations, compliance adherence and customer care offering.
In the first performance agreement issued to a director of SZV, several points were outlined for SZV to work on.
“The results of several actions are starting to show: increase in customer contact options, access of information for insured, contracted international health care providers, implementation of control mechanisms through the internal audit department, improved working relations between the Ministry of Health, St. Maarten Medical Center and other stakeholders, staff training and development, online employer services, digital declarations for health care providers and more,” the release said.
The continued execution of the strategic plan is important, as it will have an impact on health care reform for the country. One of the challenges of Government institutions is data collection and the management of information exchange. The automation focus of SZV aims to address this with the introduction of E-SZV which will expand to E-Health. This is the automation and synchronisation of critical processes and data for SZV, local health care providers and the insured.
“The result being improved service, ability to monitor efficiency and combat possible fraud,” the release said.
