Friday, January 5, 2007
For the Attention of
Hospital Board Chairs, CEOs, CFOs,
OHA Board of Directors and CACN Members
From Hilary Short
President and CEO
2007/08 Hospital Accountability Agreement Negotiations
On behalf of everyone at the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very happy new year and all the best for a successful 2007. I also wanted to take a moment to update you on our role during the next month of Hospital Accountability Agreement negotiations.
As I think most would agree, over the past several years, significant progress has been made in improving planning and stability in the hospital sector. Multi-year funding and accountability agreements have together played a key role in helping accomplish this important health system goal.
Over the past several months, OHA member representatives, Ministry appointed hospital representatives and OHA staff have remained in very close contact with the Ministry through the JPPC, Strategic Issues Forum and the Ministry’s Operations Steering Committee, providing advice and feedback in order to ensure the success of the 2007/2008 Hospital Accountability Agreement negotiations.
Our most recent information suggests that at present, a significant number of hospitals (approximately 67) are in the position of being able to successfully conclude an agreement with the ministry. This is a tremendous accomplishment.
At the same time, however, some hospitals continue to face challenges that will need to be overcome in order to sign a 2007/08 accountability agreement with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Over the next month, a great deal of work and effort will be needed by all involved in order to reach the Ministry’s goal of concluding accountability agreements with all Ontario hospitals by January 31, 2007.
Throughout this important exercise, the OHA will continue to play a leadership role in identifying issues that may impact on the successful completion of remaining accountability agreement negotiations. We will continue to play a leadership role in helping to develop solutions to those issues and challenges as well.
In this regard, it is very important that we hear directly from you, our members, so that we have a clear understanding of any major challenges and concerns you may have so that we identify the most effective way to bring them forward on your behalf.
For example, we have heard from many hospitals about pressures originating from high numbers of alternative level of care patients that cannot be discharged in a timely way into other, more appropriate settings. Working with the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario (CAHO), we are in ongoing communication with the ministry about the importance of accurately understanding the nature of the challenge and moving forward together in identifying and implementing solutions. We will update members about this important issue in the time ahead.
Please do not hesitate to let me know at any time if you have any questions, comments or concerns. Please also feel free to contact Lou Reidel, Director, Health Finance & Research at 416-205-1320 or
lreidel@oha.com, or Anthony Dale, Vice President, Policy and Public Affairs at 416-205-1348 or
adale@oha.com.