Keeping Health Care Dollars in North East Ontario
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release – Thursday, April 2, 2009 – The NE LHIN Board of Directors have approved the re-allocation of close to $3.3 million in one-time health care dollars within our region.In the month of March, health service providers from across our LHIN volunteered their unspent dollars to more than 30 other local health service providers who were in need of additional funds to maintain their programs and/or services. Health service providers such as the Timiskaming Home Support – Soutien a Domicile, Mamawesen North Shore Tribal Council, People for Equally Partnership in Mental Health, West Parry Sound Health Centre and more will benefit from the receipt of these funds (please see complete list Backgrounder A).
In addition, the Board approved the allocation of $432,000 in one time funds to support nine health service integration proposals across the region. The proposals were received from various service providers as part of the NE LHIN’s Integration Strategy. This strategy provides health service providers with a process to achieve continued success with health service integration and coordination efforts.
The Integration Strategy supports system changes that:
• enhance access to, and quality of, health services;
• improve individual and population health outcomes;
• improve the overall patient experience within the health system by reducing gaps and duplications; and
• realize greater efficiencies through the most effective use of available resources.
Please see the attached list of proposals which will receive funding (please see Backgrounder B).
QUOTES
Mathilde Gravelle Bazinet, Chair of the NE LHIN says, “This re-allocation and re-distribution of existing health service dollars to health service providers within our LHIN who need the funds is proof that the health model established under the Local Health System Integration Act (LHSIA) is truly providing the authority LHINs need to meet local health care needs”.
“The McGuinty government continues to show its dedication to health care in Northeastern Ontario with the re-allocation of these health care dollars,” said Sudbury MPP, Rick Bartolucci.
“This investment, through the North East LHIN, to increase patient access to the CT scanner builds on our government’s $2 million investment to provide this important new diagnostic machine which has already allowed for 6670 additional tests for residents in Sault Ste. Marie,” said David Orazietti, MPP, Sault Ste. Marie. “Today’s announcement furthers the province’s Wait Time Strategy which helps ensure that Ontarians receive the care they need, when they need it.”
“Today’s announcement demonstrates the partnership that has been created between the health care providers and the NE LHIN.” said David Ramsay, MPP for Timiskaming-Cochrane. “The initiative taken by the health care providers and the NE LHIN Board of Directors is a confirmation of their goal to ensure high quality health services to our communities.”
“I am delighted to see organizations in our region benefitting from these re-allocated funds, including the North Bay General Hospital, People for Equal Partnership in Mental Health and the North Bay Half Way House,” said Nipissing MPP, Monique Smith.
Léo Therrien, Executive Director of Maison Vale Inco Hospice noted, “This funding will go towards the Hospice Residential Care Program and will directly benefit the residents of Maison Vale Inco Hospice and their families.”
QUICK FACTS
• The North East LHIN administers transfer payments of approximately 1.1 billion dollars per year; all of which flows directly to health service providers.
• The North East LHIN is responsible for planning, funding and integrating more than 200 health service providers across a 400,000 square kilometre region.
LEARN MORE
For more detailed information on this release, please contact:
Cynthia Stables, NE LHIN Senior Corporate Advisor (705) 845-1887; Cynthia.Stables@lhins.on.ca.
