LHINs Policy Paper and Conference
For the Attention of Hospital CEOs, Board Chairs, OHA Board of Directors and CACN Members
From Hilary Short, President & CEO
As you may be aware, representatives from our member hospitals have formed a Working Group in response to the Ontario government’s plan to better integrate health care through the creation of Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs). Over the past number of months, the LHIN Working Group has been active in providing advice and advocating to the Ministry on behalf of Ontario’s hospitals, but most notably, the Group has produced a policy paper providing recommendations to the government for the effective implementation of LHINs.
To further engage our members and educate health care organizations and partners on the topic of LHINs, the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) is holding a conference on Friday, February 25th, that will also serve as a forum for the official launch of the policy paper, which is entitled, "Collaborating for Change: Optimizing the Effectiveness of LHINs in Ontario." Each hospital will receive a copy of the paper in this week’s corporate mailing.
While the OHA supports increased health care integration and is committed to working with the government to ensure the successful implementation of LHINs, the paper identifies key challenges related to governance and funding issues that must be addressed as plans move forward. Launching this paper is a significant step in helping to ensure transformation plans are as effective as possible in enhancing health and wellness across the province.
The LHIN Working Group is commended for their hard work and commitment to this initiative, and for producing such a comprehensive and thorough document. It is the intent of the OHA that the paper serve as a framework to help guide implementation efforts, as well as a foundation from which we can initiate future efforts related to advancing hospitals’ positions on LHINs.
Over the coming weeks, your hospital will receive a Toolkit designed to educate you on LHIN advocacy efforts and help you communicate with your communities and politicians about the future of LHINs. In the interim, if you have any feedback on the paper, or any questions relating to LHINs’ advocacy efforts, please contact Steve Orsini at 416-205-1339. For more information about the LHINs conference on February 25, please visit the OHA website at www.oha.com/conferences