Stephen Duckett
Encyclopedia
Stephen John Duckett is an economist and health services manager who has occupied leadership roles in health services in both Australia and Canada. He is currently a professor at the University of Alberta
.
(Opportunity classes) and Fort Street High School
. He subsequently studied economics at the Australian National University
(BEc) and health administration at the University of New South Wales
(MHA, PhD). His academic contributions have been recognized by the University of New South Wales by the award of a higher doctorate, Doctor of Science
, (DSc), and by election as a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
(FASSA).
and the New South Wales Council on the Ageing. His research also examined aspects of hospital administration
He worked in the Victorian health system for a number of years from 1983 including as Regional Director and subsequently Director of Acute Health for the Victorian Department of Health and Community Services, in the latter role he was responsible for introducing case mix
funding to Australia. This was the first major application of this approach to hospital funding in a publicly funded health system
He was appointed Departmental Secretary
to the Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health (now the Department of Health and Ageing) in 1994 and served in that role until the election of the (conservative) Howard Government
in 1996.
From 1996 to 2005 he worked at La Trobe University
in Melbourne, Australia as Professor of Health Policy, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and, for part of that period, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Learning and Teaching. During this period he continued research on aspects of hospital economics and published a book on the Australian health care system.
Dr Duckett served as chair of the Board of Directors of the Brotherhood of St Laurence
(2000–2005) and of Bayside Health (2000–2006).
He was recruited to Queensland Health
in 2006 in the wake of the Dr Death scandal
to lead improvements in quality and safety as Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Healthcare Improvement.
in the spring of 2009 as President and Chief Executive Officer of its newly created health "superboard," Alberta Health Services
with a significant reform agenda. (Alberta Health Services is a quasi-independent agency of the Alberta government created in May 2008 to operate hospitals and other public health services throughout the province of Alberta). Dr Duckett moved to Edmonton Alberta and took up his duties on 23 March of that year.
Shortly after his appointment, the provincial government imposed a significant ($1billion) budget cut on Alberta Health Services. Implementation of these cuts by Alberta Health Services was unpopular and controversial.
On 24 November 2010, the chairman of the Alberta Health Services Board announced that Duckett's contract was terminated and that after mutual consultation, he had been released from his contractual obligations. Both parties felt that his ability to continue in his duties had been "compromised." On July 29, 2011, based on the terms of his contract, Duckett was paid $661,250 in severance pay, $54,380 in variable pay and $20,000 for all other liabilties.
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
.
Educational background
Stephen Duckett was born in Sydney and educated at Woollahra Public SchoolWoollahra Public School
Woollahra Public School, previously known as Woollahra Demonstration School for many years, is a main school located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, Australia, in the suburb of Woollahra, near Edgecliff.-Description:...
(Opportunity classes) and Fort Street High School
Fort Street High School
Fort Street High School is a co-educational, academically selective, public high school currently located at Petersham, an inner western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
. He subsequently studied economics at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
(BEc) and health administration at the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
(MHA, PhD). His academic contributions have been recognized by the University of New South Wales by the award of a higher doctorate, Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
, (DSc), and by election as a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia is an autonomous, non-governmental organisation, devoted to the advancement of knowledge and research in the social sciences. It was established in 1971...
(FASSA).
Career 1970s to 2009
Dr Duckett worked as an academic (Lecturer/Senior Lecturer) in the School of Health Administration at the University of New South Wales from 1974 to 1983. He was an active public commentator supporting Australia's Medicare scheme, and worked with a number of non-government organizations such as the Australian Council of Social ServiceAustralian Council of Social Service
The Australian Council of Social Service is an Australian advocacy group that represents the interests of organisations and individuals engaged in social welfare in Australia. It was formed in 1956....
and the New South Wales Council on the Ageing. His research also examined aspects of hospital administration
He worked in the Victorian health system for a number of years from 1983 including as Regional Director and subsequently Director of Acute Health for the Victorian Department of Health and Community Services, in the latter role he was responsible for introducing case mix
Case mix
The term Casemix refers to the type or mix of patients treated by a hospital or unit. The term is often used to describe the billing system of the hospital or unit, since the "cost per item" of healthcare is based on the casemix.-Background:...
funding to Australia. This was the first major application of this approach to hospital funding in a publicly funded health system
He was appointed Departmental Secretary
Departmental Secretary
A departmental secretary is the head of an Australian Commonwealth or state government department especially in Victoria...
to the Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health (now the Department of Health and Ageing) in 1994 and served in that role until the election of the (conservative) Howard Government
Howard Government
The Howard Government refers to the federal Executive Government of Australia led by Prime Minister John Howard. It was made up of members of the Liberal–National Coalition, which won a majority of seats in the Australian House of Representatives at four successive elections. The Howard Government...
in 1996.
From 1996 to 2005 he worked at La Trobe University
La Trobe University
La Trobe University is a multi-campus university in Victoria, Australia. It was established in 1964 by an Act of Parliament to become the third oldest university in the state of Victoria. The main campus of La Trobe is located in the Melbourne suburb of Bundoora; two other major campuses are...
in Melbourne, Australia as Professor of Health Policy, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and, for part of that period, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Learning and Teaching. During this period he continued research on aspects of hospital economics and published a book on the Australian health care system.
Dr Duckett served as chair of the Board of Directors of the Brotherhood of St Laurence
Brotherhood of St Laurence
The Brotherhood of St Laurence is an Australian not-for-profit organisation. Based in Melbourne, the Brotherhood has a national profile. The organisation's vision is for an Australia free of poverty. In working towards this vision it undertakes research and develops and delivers services and...
(2000–2005) and of Bayside Health (2000–2006).
He was recruited to Queensland Health
Queensland Health
Queensland Health is the department of the Government of Queensland responsible for operating and administering the public health system of the Australian State of Queensland. It is responsible to the State's Health Minister Geoff Wilson and its Director-General is Tony O'Connell.Queensland Health...
in 2006 in the wake of the Dr Death scandal
Jayant Patel
Jayant Mukundray Patel , referred to as Doctor Death is a surgeon who is at the centre of a 2005 scandal in which he was accused of gross incompetence while working at Bundaberg Base Hospital in Queensland, Australia...
to lead improvements in quality and safety as Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Healthcare Improvement.
Alberta Health Services
Dr Duckett was hired by the provincial government of AlbertaAlberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
in the spring of 2009 as President and Chief Executive Officer of its newly created health "superboard," Alberta Health Services
Alberta Health Services
Alberta Health Services is the province-wide organization responsible for providing hospital and other health care in the Canadian province of Alberta. Known as the "superboard", it was created in May 2008, with the abolition of nine previous regional health authorities, the Alberta Mental Health...
with a significant reform agenda. (Alberta Health Services is a quasi-independent agency of the Alberta government created in May 2008 to operate hospitals and other public health services throughout the province of Alberta). Dr Duckett moved to Edmonton Alberta and took up his duties on 23 March of that year.
Shortly after his appointment, the provincial government imposed a significant ($1billion) budget cut on Alberta Health Services. Implementation of these cuts by Alberta Health Services was unpopular and controversial.
Cookie Controversy
On 20 November 2010, Stephen Duckett came under scrutiny for televised remarks to the media following a high-level meeting about the situation in the province’s emergency rooms. During the aired segment, Duckett refused to answer questions by reporters waiting outside the meeting room, using the excuse he was eating his cookie. and that another person had been designated to make comments. He later issued an apology noting that he had not felt comfortable as a non-elected official being asked to respond to the comments of other, elected, officials. He has subsequently stated that he had been instructed by the office of Alberta Premier Stelmach not to make any comments.On 24 November 2010, the chairman of the Alberta Health Services Board announced that Duckett's contract was terminated and that after mutual consultation, he had been released from his contractual obligations. Both parties felt that his ability to continue in his duties had been "compromised." On July 29, 2011, based on the terms of his contract, Duckett was paid $661,250 in severance pay, $54,380 in variable pay and $20,000 for all other liabilties.
External links
- http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/251.asp
- http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/
- http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/sundayreader/story.html?id=e39baa8a-a1af-4cbe-aaa7-ef610c0e0627&p=1