Service Delivery Issues

The Steering Committee for the 2011-2013 Multi-Sector Service Accountability Agreements (M-SAA) has begun to meet. The M-SAA is a requirement under the Ministry-LHIN Accountability Agreement and the Local Health System Integration Act, 2006.

The LHIN Collaborative (LHINC) Council held its fifth meeting on July 9, 2010. This communiqué provides an overview of the key messages stemming from that meeting.

The following projects were discussed by LHINC Council: Priority Setting/Decision Making Process; Transition Management: “Home-First” Approach; Engagement of Public Health in LHIN Processes; Capacity Planning; LHINC Evaluation Framework.

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.

On October 27, 2009 the Central LHIN Board of Directors approved a voluntary integration request submitted by York Central Hospital and CMHA York Region. The result of the integration request is the transfer of funding and mandate from York Central Hospital to CMHA York Region to deliver employment support services in York Region and South Simcoe. CMHA will recruit three employment specialists for job development, job coaching, and information resources.

The Toronto Central LHIN has released its Integrated Health Service Plan for 2010-2013. The IHSP is oriented around five priorities: ER wait times, Alternate Level of Care (ALC), diabetes, mental health and addictions and value and affordability.

The North West LHIN has identified 11 priorities in its Integrated Health Services Plan (IHSP) for 2010-2013, organized across the three themes of ‘access to and integration of services’, ‘people of Northwestern Ontario’ and ‘Enablers’. Mental health and addictions is one of the identified priorities.

The IHSP outlines the LHIN’s objectives for mental health and addictions, to:

• Improve access to mental health and addictions services and make the system easier to navigate.
• Improve coordination of mental health and addictions services.

Waterloo Wellington LHIN has released its Integrated Health Services Plan (IHSP) for 2010-2013. Working Together for a Healthier Future is oriented around eight priorities:

• Improving wait times for MRI exams
• Improving access to emergency department (ED) care
• Improving access to primary care
• Improving access to, and coordination of, addictions and mental health services
• Improving chronic disease prevention and management
• Improving outcomes for stroke patients
• Decreasing alternate level of care (ALC) days

The Mississauga Halton LHIN’s Integrated Health Service Plan (IHSP) for 2010-2013 is oriented around six priorities:

• Improving access, quality and sustainability of the health system
• Create LHIN-wide regional programs
• Prevention and management of chronic conditions
• Integrating mental health and addictions services
• Enhancing seniors’ health, wellness and quality of life
• Strengthening primary health care

The North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN has released its Integrated Health Service Plan for 2010-2013.

Working Together to Achieve Better Health, Better Care, Better Value is oriented around four strategic directions and priorities:

• Access to Appropriate Care – Emergency Room / Alternate Level of Care Strategy
• Chronic Disease Management – Access to Integrated Diabetes Care
• Designing an Integrated Future State of the Health System in North Simcoe Muskoka

The North East LHIN Integrated Health Service Plan (IHSP) for 2010-2013 identifies nine interconnecting priorities for the next three years:

• Aboriginal / First Nations / Métis Health Services
• Addiction and Mental Health Services
• Aging at Home
• Alternate Level of Care Strategies and Solutions
• Diabetes Care
• Emergency Department Wait Times
• French Language Health Services – An Integrated Approach
• Health Human Resources
• Optimize Surgical Services.