By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
In its 2023-2024 annual public session, held on Nov. 7, and streamed live on Facebook, the CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS presented an in-depth overview of accomplishments, challenges, and ongoing efforts. CEO Dr. Stéphane Tremblay and Quality Commissioner Sophie Brisson led the session, covering strides in service expansion, staff growth, and improvements in accessibility and addressing current obstacles in mental health services, emergency response times, and doctor availability.
With over 500,000 residents served across the Eastern Townships, the CIUSSS remains the most comprehensive health institution in the province outside major metropolitan centres, managing over 100 service points and providing extensive public health, short- and long-term care, and mental health support.
Significant advances in home and youth services
Dr. Tremblay highlighted several achievements, including the CIUSSS’s expansion in home support services, surpassing ministry targets for hours of care and client outreach. He noted that the organization’s home-support initiative continues to meet high demand, offering care to vulnerable residents within their own homes, a point of pride given the rural and semi-rural nature of many communities in the region. For families with young children, the “Agir Tôt” early intervention program, designed to identify developmental delays by 18 months, has seen significant success, exceeding detection targets.
In staffing, the CIUSSS made significant gains, with a net increase of 700 employees between September 2023 and September 2024. Tremblay emphasized that the current retention rate now exceeds 85 per cent for new hires in their first year, a crucial improvement to ensure continuity of care. “Our organization’s commitment to a supportive work environment is beginning to show real returns,” he noted.
