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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Minister of Health, Professor Chen Zhu; the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow; Hospital Authority (HA) Chairman, Mr Anthony Wu; and HA Chief Executive, Mr Shane Solomon, were joined by over 200 community partners, patient group representatives and staff members of the HA Head Office and the seven hospital clusters today (September 20) to witness the launch of a new era for the "Vision, Mission and Values" (VMV) of the Authority.
The Launch Ceremony of HA's New Service Culture was held at the HA Building this morning. Addressing at the ceremony, Mr Wu remarked that the old "VMV" were devised some 18 years ago. "With the progression of society and changing community expectation towards HA, we need to refresh a new service culture and consolidate it in our daily work to meet the needs of patients today."
Mr Wu in particular expressed his heartfelt thanks to Professor Chen for pledging his support for HA by officiating at the Launch Ceremony following a Stone Laying Ceremony at Tseung Kwan O Hospital in the same morning.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Mr Solomon elaborated on the new Vision of "Healthy People, Happy Staff, Trusted by the Community". "By that, we balance the interests of people, staff and the community. While helping people, we want to make our staff happy and earn the trust of the community."
"Our mission on 'helping people stay healthy' emphasises our role as supporters of patients – offering them the treatment, the information, the encouragement to look after their own health. We are the 'supporting actor'; they are the stars of the show," he added.
He also pointed out that each of the VMV statements starts with the word "People" (Healthy People; Helping People; People-centred). "It reinforces our 'people first' philosophy."
Today's ceremony also marked the launch of the Smart Patient Website (www.smartpatient.ha.org.hk) which is a one-stop patient information website coordinated by the Health InfoWorld to provide comprehensive patient-related and disease-based information to patients.
Through the user-friendly electronic platform, patients and their families could access accurate information which enhances their knowledge of disease and community resources, so as to improve their self-care skills and strengthen their ability on disease management.
Mr Solomon noted that this patient empowerment website demonstrated HA's mission of "Helping People Stay Healthy". He appealed to colleagues to continue working together to make the new VMV alive and entrench it.
Ends/Sunday, September 20, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:46
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