Local Health Integration Network Update
For the Attention of: Hospital Board Chairs, CEOs, OHA Board of Directors and CACN Members
From: Hilary Short, President, Ontario Hospital Association
LHIN Community Consultation Workshops
The Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) consultation workshops held by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) have come to an end. The OHA attended most of these sessions while also soliciting feedback from a number of hospitals. A list of integration initiatives that were brought forward and prioritized by local providers at these workshops will be made available by the OHA shortly and will be categorized by LHIN.
The list of priority integration reports from all 14 community consultation workshops, including the names of those participating in preparing each report and planning contact information, are being made available to workshop participants at www.prioritysetting.ca (by password). In addition, the resource guides, entitled "Taking Stock: Setting Integration Priorities Resource Guide", that were provided at the workshops are available at
www.health.gov.on.ca/transformation/lhin/guide_mn.html.
LHIN Board Members
The OHA understands that individuals will be invited to apply to serve on the LHIN boards through the Ministry's Public Appointment Secretariat. The notices for the LHIN Board vacancies are now posted to the Secretariat website (go to www.pas.gov.on.ca). The application process is on-line or can be downloaded, and all applications will be reviewed by the Secretariat, and recommendations made to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. The closing date for receipt of applications is January 14, 2005.
Hospitals are encouraged to review the information on the appointment process on the government website, and to give consideration to individuals within their region who meet the criteria for appointment, and who would make a positive contribution to the work of their respective LHIN Board.
The OHA Governance Leadership Council, a group of member representatives with a mandate to provide expert advice to the OHA Board of Directors on governance policy and resources for health care trustees, has communicated to the Office of the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care the importance of preserving good governance in the implementation and operation of LHINs. Advice has also been offered regarding the essential characteristics and qualifications for LHIN Board Members.
OHA LHIN Working Group
The OHA has established a LHINs Working Group comprised of hospital CEOs, chaired by Bruce Harber, CEO of York Central Hospital and supported by OHA staff. The Working Group will provide strategic advice from hospitals on LHINs and is currently drafting a preliminary high-level paper focusing on many key LHIN-related issues in need of greater clarification. This document will be made available to members for comment and feedback in the new year.
In addition, the Integration Task Force, a multi-stakeholder "think tank" is continuing to work collaboratively under the chairmanship of Joe Mapa, President and CEO of Mt. Sinai Hospital. Their work is currently centred on determining what are the basic components and success factors of the principles developed by the Task Force and adopted by the MOHLTC for application to LHINs.
If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to call Lou Reidel at 416-205-1320, lreidel@oha.com or Isobel Manzer at 416-205-1314, imanzer@oha.com