LHIN lays out 10 year plan for health care in the region

News Release
NW LHIN

A health care system that is patient-centred, integrated, increases access to care, improves quality of care, and will be sustainable for generations to come is the future of the health care system in Northwestern Ontario. This vision is outlined in a comprehensive long-term plan released today by the North West Local Health Integration Network.
The Health Services Blueprint, which was prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers, is a 10-year plan to reshape, strengthen and sustain the health care system in Northwestern Ontario. The Blueprint will inform decisions about the allocation of resources in such a way as to provide the best care and ensure the best health outcomes for patients.
The report is based on a comprehensive evaluation of health care in the Northwest, including an assessment of future patient and system needs. It was informed by quantitative data, qualitative data through extensive input from health service providers and communities across the region, as well as by leading practices and health systems from other jurisdictions.
The Blueprint focuses on reducing demand for expensive hospital services by shifting and improving access to care and delivery of services in the community, particularly for seniors, people with mental health and addiction conditions, and people with chronic diseases.
The plan creates an integrated health system model of networks of providers working together to improve patient care at three different levels:
Local Health Hubs, comprised of health service providers in and around communities providing coordinated and inter-disciplinary care closer to home Integrated District Networks, which will coordinate care across multiple communities that share services
Regional or LHIN-wide programs, which will disseminate best practices and set standards of care right across the LHIN as well as and deliver high impact specialty programs on a regional basis.
Community engagement sessions will begin in April to share information on the Health Services Blueprint and engage our health service providers and partners in a discussion on how to best implement the newly proposed integrated health system model.
“We face a great many challenges in health care today, everything from a growing and aging population to an uncertain economy and growing budget pressures. We need to start using our resources more wisely and efficiently, ensuring that every single dollar we spend results in better patient care," said Joy Warkentin, Chair, North West LHIN Board
“We know that if people are receiving the care and support they need in their communities, closer to home, that’s better for them and it’s better for our health care system. The Blueprint provides a model and key recommendations to help us integrate our health care system, eliminating duplication and gaps in care, and making it easier for patients to access services, regardless of where they live," said Laura Kokocinski, CEO, North West LHIN
QUICK FACTS
•Today, Ontario is spending 42 cents of every dollar on health care. Within 12 years, if nothing changes, that will rise to 70 cents.
•The North West LHIN has a high rate of preventable disease. For example, according to statistics, in the Northwest:
•More people smoke, drink heavily and are overweight compared with the provincial average, contributing to risk factors for certain chronic diseases.
•25% of people over age 65 have diabetes versus around 20% provincially.
•58% of people over age 65 have high blood pressure versus around 51% provincially
•23% of people over age 14 have arthritis versus 17% provincially
•The Northwest region has the highest rate of acute hospital use in the province. The number of repeat
•Emergency Department visits is 28% higher than the provincial average.
North West LHIN area residents have high rates of hospitalizations and emergency department visits for many chronic diseases.
•In 2009-10, health care spending in the Northwest LHIN was 39% higher than the provincial average in almost every sector.