A tribute to Vin McLoughlin
Director of Quality and Performance Analysis, The Health Foundation
Vin McLoughlin was a woman with a deeply held and enduring commitment to improving the quality of health care, whose passion and insights helped to transform the Health Foundation into the organisation it is today. Sadly, Vin passed away on Sunday 29 November 2009 from cancer of the pancreas.
Vin came to the Health Foundation in 2004 having had 20 years experience in the Australian healthcare system where she had worked at local, national and international levels. Prior to joining the Health Foundation she held the position of Executive Director of the Australian Council for Safety & Quality of Healthcare, a body administered by the Australian Federal Department of Health which reported to all Australian health ministers. In this role she pioneered the world-leading Australian approach to patient safety.
Throughout her career Vin participated in a range of international activities on patient safety and quality, including work with the Commonwealth Fund of New York on quality performance measurement. She worked as a consultant to the OECD in 1998/9, comparing the effects of health policies and financing on evidence based healthcare processes across six countries. She was a member of the Editorial Committee to the International Society for Quality in Health Care.
Immediately prior to taking up her role at the Australian Council for Safety & Quality, Vin chaired the Federal Government’s Ministerial Review of its General Practice Strategy, having led the development of the Australian government's general practice strategy since 1992.
On arriving at the Foundation Vin assumed responsibility for all of the Foundation’s programme development and policy work. She brought her very considerable international experience and vision to bear as she set about leading the Foundation’s first review of its strategy and the development of its underpinning philosophy. Under her guidance and leadership new award schemes were developed in leadership, safety and patient engagement.
Her international experience and depth of knowledge of multiple health systems and the challenges they faced also enabled the Foundation to further the work it did on an international front.
Vin’s towering intellect and leadership led her to engage with some of the most challenging fields in health service quality and she never lost sight of her primary driver for this which was to ensure that patients receiving healthcare tomorrow will receive safer and higher quality care than they do today. Her passion to improve the quality of healthcare was evident to all.
Following a major reorganisation of the Foundation’s work in 2008, Vin took on a new role leading the organsation’s work on research and development, evaluation and strategy. She was just beginning to lead this work with her usual high levels of energy and commitment when, sadly, she became ill. Vin died in November, leaving her husband Pete and two teenage children Fiona and Kirstie.
Vin was committed to her career but always put her family first, a challenge within a career that often only pays lip service to the notion of family friendly policies. However, this never undermined her achievements and, indeed, increased the respect with which she was held.
Vin will not only be remembered for her vast notable achievements throughout her career, but also for her personal qualities. Compassion and empathy were at the very core of her value system and she always offered her strength and support to those in need. She radiated with positivity and time spent with her was always full of fun and laughter.
Vin was a remarkable woman, and it was a privilege to have known her and worked with her. She is sorely missed by all her colleagues at the Foundation and her extensive network of international contacts in safety and quality.