Erie St. Clair LHIN

The Integrated Assessment Record (IAR) pilot project in the Erie St. Clair and Central West LHINs, which launched in August 2009, continues to build momentum. The project is currently focused on community-based mental health organizations, but new partners include Westover Treatment Centre, Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital and Leamington District Memorial Hospital from the Erie St. Clair LHIN. Several other LHINS have expressed interest, and a provincial steering committee has been formed and is making progress in their oversight role, including the release of an RFP for IAR software.

The Community Care Information Management (CCIM) program’s HRIS project team at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has launched a new HRIS Quadrant Software Webinar for Community Mental Health and Addictions (CMH&A) and Community Support Services (CSS) organizations across the province.

The webinar reviews how to:

• implement the Quadrant (HR, Payroll, Scheduling and Self Service) software

• streamline back-office processes

• meet Ontario Healthcare Reporting Standards requirements

OMHAKEN is the Ontario Mental Health and Addictions Knowledge Exchange Network, a knowledge exchange network initially established to support the research of the System Enhancement Evaluation Initiative (SEEI).

OMHAKEN works to improve the quality of mental health and addictions services, supports, research and policy by linking and engaging providers, planners, researchers, decision-makers, policy-makers, consumers and families in knowledge creation and exchange across all levels of government and the health care system.

The Erie St. Clair LHIN has released its Integrated Health Service Plan (IHSP) for 2010-2013.

Navigating Change in Right Lane is oriented around 5 strategic directions:

• improved outcomes in alternate level of care

• improved outcomes in emergency department care

• improved outcomes in diabetes management (chronic disease management)

• improved outcomes in mental health and addictions

• improved outcomes in rehabilitation care and interventions

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care recently released the LHIN Guide to Good Governance as a resource to provide guidance based on leading practices to LHIN Board members and other stakeholders.

The Guide reviews five topic areas:

• Leading practices in board governance
• Board member roles and responsibilities
• Board scenarios
• Board evaluations
• Checklists and policy documents

The Erie St. Clair LHIN commissioned the Hay Group to do a report on the status of three small community rural hospital emergency departments. The report was finalized and presented to the Board in January 2009.

Health care providers involved in a new pilot within CCIM are testing the use of a solution designed to enable community mental health, hospital in-patient, mental health crisis programs in emergency departments, and community health centres to collaboratively view client assessment information. The Integrated Assessment (IA) tool provides a central repository for data collected from multiple assessments for clients and allows health service providers within the circle of care to view a client’s previous assessment information from other care providers.

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the health status indicators for Lambton County, specifically mortality. The report includes an in-depth look at cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and diabetes. Comparisons are made between Lambton and Ontario and between Lambton and other regions in Southwestern Ontario, including Chatham-Kent and Windsor-Essex.

Commissioned by the ESC LHIN and conducted by the Hay Group this study examines the challenges facing three small hospital emergency departments in ESC LHIN and offers recommendations for system improvements. The ESC LHIN expects to make final decisions by June 2009 following consultation with community partners. The community engagement is currently underway on this sensitive issue. Chatham Kent residents can offer comment directly on the study through the ESC LHIN website.

Commissioned by the ESC LHIN and conducted by KPMG this review commenced late 2008. The initial focus is devoted to the access function and will look at access within emergency departments of ESC LHIN hospitals. Emergency Departments are a focal point for entry and re-entry into the health care system for mental health and addiction consumers thereby contributing to wait times. Opportunities for system improvements are expected to emerge as a result of this review.