Press Release
The North West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) has a new Integrated Health Services Plan, which identifies the priorities for health system improvements in Northwestern Ontario over the next three years (2010-13) and the plans to address them.
The IHSP, released Nov. 30, builds on the findings and progress made on the priorities in the LHIN’s plan for 2007-10.
The plan was developed using the information gathered through significant engagement and discussion with local health-care providers, communities, health-care workers, and the public throughout the region.
The priorities in the new IHSP are focused in three primary areas: access to and integration of services, enablers, and people of Northwestern Ontario.
The priorities include, by focus area:
1. Access to and integration of services
•Department wait times and alternate level of care;
•Primary care;
•Specialty care and diagnostic services;
•Chronic disease prevention and management;
•Long-term care services; and
•Mental health and addictions services
2. Enablers
•Health human resources;
•eHealth; and
•Integration of services along the continuum of care
3. People of Northwestern Ontario
•Aboriginal health services; and
•French language health services
“We thank the numerous residents and health-care professionals of Northwestern Ontario who met with the LHIN since 2007,” said Janice Beazley, chair of the North West LHIN board of directors.
“We believe the health system is best shaped by the people who use and work within it,” she noted.
“Their input ensures that our plan will build a better health care system over the next three years.”
“The IHSP is the result of efforts of many people, and it will guide our decision-making and funding decisions for the next three years,” echoed North West LHIN CEO Gwen DuBois-Wing.
“It provides overall direction and opportunities for alignment of health services and providers in the northwest.
“The IHSP is an action plan that the North West LHIN will carry out together with our health-service providers, partners, and communities,” DuBois-Wing added.
Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Michael Gravelle applauded the three-year plan.
“Once again, the North West LHIN is taking an innovative and integrated approach to delivering health-care services to our vast region, reaching out to ensure people in all our communities can access the health care they need,” he said.
“That’s an enormous challenge, but this plan includes input from the people who matter most—the people of Northwestern Ontario—and also addresses the priorities for health care outlined by the Government of Ontario,” Gravelle noted.
“Thunder Bay and district continues to see major advancements in the provision of health-care services,” said Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro.
“This Integrated Health Services Plan will help guide decision-makers over the next three years, and reflects the priorities of stakeholders in our area,” he remarked.
Each of the 14 LHINs review and revise their IHSP every three years to ensure local priorities are on track and reflect the current needs of residents and service providers.
The IHSP was created using information gained from extensive engagement. In 2007/08, the LHIN hosted more than 150 sessions, including forums, roundtable discussions, meetings, workshops, and training for some 2,500 participants.
This activity was doubled in 2008/09, with more than 5,435 individuals engaged at 331 sessions across the northwest.
The largest single engagement initiative was the “Share Your Story, Shape Your Care” project, which collected input from more than 800 people.
The North West LHIN 2010-13 IHSP has 11 priorities for change to the health-care system in Northwestern Ontario.
It is available at www.northwestlhin.on.ca under the IHSP tab.
