Developing the Plan
In May 2008, the Niagara Health System was directed by the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) to prepare and submit a draft Hospital Improvement Plan by July 15. This draft Plan was a framework for the NHS to enhance quality of hospital health care across Niagara over the long term, while at the same time, balance financial pressures, the needs of Niagara’s aging population and the challenges of the ongoing shortage of doctors, nurses and other health professionals.
Since July, a number of new reports have been developed, providing feedback to the draft Plan by both the community and by expert advisor Dr. Jack Kitts and his team from Ottawa. The feedback and recommendations have been incorporated into a revised Hospital Improvement Plan, which was approved by the NHS Board of Trustees Nov. 18. This revised Hospital Improvement Plan Addendum was discussed by the LHIN Board of Trustees and subsequently approved in its totality at the Dec. 16 Board meeting.
With the LHIN’s final approval of the HIP, planning is now underway by NHS staff and physicians to develop implementation strategies and communication tools for 2009 and beyond, until all elements of the HIP have been implemented.
To review all of the reports and plans, please go to the Vision/Plan tab or click HERE.