Vision includes integrating health services for seamless patient care, and more
Jill Tettmann is the CEO for the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network. – nsmlhin.on.ca/Photo
MUSKOKA – A task force created to map a future for integrated health-care services in Muskoka has reached the end of its original mandate – but its recommendations could ripple through future hospital plans for the region.
The Muskoka and Area Health System Transformation council submitted its recommendations to the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network in June, after 18 months of community consultation, investigation and debate.
And the LHIN board accepted the 21-member council’s report in late-September with an eye to seeing its vision through, according to LHIN CEO Jill Tettmann.
When we attempted to contact MAHST representatives, we were forwarded to the LHIN.
“We created a task force that was advisory to the board to give us recommendations on an integrated health system,” said Tettmann, noting additional goals were to propose a governance structure and implementation plan.
“That original task force mandate was to deliver the report, which they did on June 30.”
Tettmann said meetings were planned between LHIN and council representatives to discuss the next steps for the recommendations within the council’s 64-page report called Charting the Course for Muskoka and Area Health Care Transformation – A Community Plan for System Integration and Sustainability.
The council was created after the Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare board voted in May 2015 to plan for a single-hospital future for the region, which led to a joint meeting between Bracebridge and Huntsville town councils in opposition of that decision.
The LHIN then created the Muskoka Healthcare Task Force to mediate discussion between the hospital board, municipalities and physicians. Those discussions led, in part, to the creation of MAHST by July 2016.
Recommendations in the report included aligning health care with public health and social services, increasing education around health and wellness, protecting annual Muskoka health agency operating surpluses from provincial clawbacks, changing the LHIN boundaries to include East Parry Sound areas served by the Muskoka health system, creating a new sub-region authority to support service integration, integrating health services for seamless patient care, and more.
“MAHST has very much been taken seriously,” said Tettmann when questioned on the province’s decision to hand $1 million to MAHC to continue with future hospital infrastructure and service planning, despite the council not yet completing its work.The recommendations from MAHST were submitted to the LHIN in the midst of massive change in Muskoka health care, including LHIN and community care access centres reorganization, the creation of LHIN sub-region directors specific to Muskoka focused on integration, and Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare planning for future hospital services and infrastructure.
“The hospital will very much be involved in the integrated-care delivery conversations we have in Muskoka.”
She emphasized MAHST’s work and future hospital planning were not mutually exclusive, adding there was significant overlap between MAHST membership and MAHC’s new 25-member capital plan development task force.
And she noted MAHST would continue to be integral in health-care integration in Muskoka.
“We can’t do this alone, so we are really looking to the members of MAHST, who have very much put in a lot of time and effort in the last 18 months. That has not gone unappreciated,” she said.
MAHST co-chairs Don Mitchell and Dr. Adalsteinn Brown stated in a media release they were proud of the report.
“We believe it describes a bold future vision for the health system serving Muskoka and area. We understand that the Province of Ontario has given the North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN priority areas for integration and we will work with the LHIN on these as the foundation for a broader and truly person-centered health-care system,” stated the co-chairs. “Although we recognize that it will be a long journey, we are committed to working together with our many partners to make Muskoka and are the healthiest community possible.”
NEWS Oct 06, 2017 by Alison Brownlee Gravenhurst Banner