Central West LHIN takes on increased responsibility

The Central West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) celebrated a critical milestone. April 1, LHINs assumed their full responsibilities of planning, funding and integrating local health services.

First announced by the government in 2004, LHINs are responsible for allocating funds to improve health services, reduce wait times and ensure better coordination between health providers.

"This marks an historic shift in the way health care services have been delivered in the past," said Mimi Lowi-Young, CEO, Central West LHIN. "We've been granted an exceptional opportunity as a LHIN and as health care providers serving our region to work collaboratively and transparently with community residents to ensure the services we are delivering are truly responsive to their needs."

LHINs oversee twothirds of Ontario's health care budget - nearly $20 billion a year and, working closely with citizens and health care partners, will determine the health care priorities and services required in their local communities.

"Our government is standing by its commitment to build a health care system around the needs of our communities and local patients," said Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman. "LHINs will make it easier for patients to access the different health services they need and to find their way through a complex health system. LHINs will break down the barriers that patients face and ensure that local health care decisions are made with patients' needs in mind."

LHINs plan, integrate, coordinate and fund local health services including Community Care Access Centres (CCACs), community health centres, community support services, hospitals, longterm care homes, and mental health and addiction agencies within a specific geographic area. The ministry retains responsibility for overall planning of the health system and a number of provincial programs including health human resources and public health.

"It's important to note that as a LHIN, we are not going to be running health care services in our region," notes Lowi-Young. "What we are and will be doing is working together with these services to make sure that health care planning is done collaboratively, that opportunities for integrating health care services are realized, and that the services we are providing are the ones that best meet local residents' needs."

Building on the strengths of local health organizations, LHINs allow for better matching of health care resources to community needs.

Patients in the Central West LHIN can expect to see a real improvement in health care. Specifically patients will:

* Benefit from different health providers working together to care for them.

* Experience fewer delays and disruptions, and shorter wait times in their health care services.

* Receive better, safer care from the health professionals that are best suited to provide that care.

* Receive better information about health services in their community, and have the ability to compare their wait times with other LHINs.

* Experience a health system that works better because there is less waste and duplication.

"LHINs are changing the way our health care system is managed," said Smitherman. "They will, for the first time, engage local residents in the planning and delivering of health care, to create even better access to quality care and reduce wait times."