January/February 2010 

A New Year’s Message from Ferne Woolcott, Board Chair (Acting)

Here at the South West LHIN, we are also focused on significant plans to improve the overall health of our communities.  After months of hard work by our health service provider partners (e.g. hospitals, long-term care homes, community care access centre, community health centres, community support service agencies and mental health and addictions agencies) and LHIN staff, I believe that the new year begins with a clearer direction on how our local health system will work together to build a healthier tomorrow.

LHIN-wide vision puts patients, clients at the centre of the system

An update on the hospital service accountability agreement process

The South West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) is working hard with our hospital partners to strengthen the existing accountability relationship. In the absence of final hospital budgeting figures for fiscal year 2010/11, a revised process is being rolled out to assist hospitals and LHINs in ensuring we meet our respective accountability requirements.

Care is becoming personal again: Partnerships make inroads in 2009

Improvements to the quality of care for individuals with diabetes in the South West LHIN took another big step forward in 2009 as Wave II of the Partnerships for Health initiative achieved improvements in care coordination, clinical and process outcomes primary care agencies. Wave III, with a graduated enrolment, launched last summer with participants already beginning to see results.

Collaboration vital to transitional care program

Collaboration Vital to Transitional Care Program They say necessity is the mother of invention…and the Transition Care Program for Seniors is just such an invention. Last year, the Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital was facing the closure of 12 complex continuing care (CCC).

Ministry extends Aging at Home deadline

On December 12, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announced it is extending the deadline for Aging at Home Year Three proposals to February 28, 2010.

Seeds of eHealth continue to grow, bear fruit in 2010

For the average citizen, it’s often difficult to understand how information and clinical technology systems will help make our health care system better, faster and more efficient.

That is exactly what’s happening in the South West LHIN as eHealth projects – many of which have been spearheaded by the very organizations we serve – enable health service providers from Tobermory to Tillsonburg to deliver improved services to the populations they care for.

Staff Update

Two new staff have joined the South West LHIN team