South East LHIN meeting held to discuss changes to health care
Monday, May 1, 2006 -- Craig Anderson
Frustrated by an undercurrent of negativity from both citizens and media in the South East LHIN region towards the re-structuring of Ontario’s health care system, the administrator of an OMNI long term care home in Jasper decided to call her own information session, inviting LHIN representatives, residents, family, and other community providers.

The April 12th meeting was also designed for her own personal information, says Nelly Hobbs, administrator of Rosebridge Manor.

“I certainly don’t understand everything about them either,” said Hobbs, after first calling the meeting. “But I don’t believe that it is a negative move.”

The recent meeting, which drew more than 40 participants, countered common myths and assumptions, such as the fear that LHINs are merely a beginning step towards privatization.

South East LHIN representatives Paul Huras, CEO, and Georgina Thompson, Chair, (see: ) provided attendees with more information about the LHIN roll out process, which gathers momentum in mid May when the LHIN begins a round of community engagement meetings to discuss the Integrated Health Services Plan.

For Hobbs, the key topic of discussion at the meeting was specialization, and the future ability of long term care providers and other agencies to receive contracts to work on special projects and initiatives.

For providers like OMNI, extra funding for a program like “supportive measures” (supportive measures is a holistic method of managing dementia, where caregivers focus on individual needs and preferences of residents with the disease in order to maximize quality of life), would mean an opportunity to strengthen the initiative.

“Potentially you could get more funding, and training,” says Hobbs, adding that certain providers would come to be known for special programs. “Providers wouldn’t be re-inventing the wheel every time.”

“And it’s important for providers to be recognized for their own special programs.”

Increased accountability to the consumer is another LHIN feature Hobbs welcomes.

“Our health care system hasn’t been meeting the needs of everyone – and we need to fix it. It’s time it evolved.”