Key Messages
Build on our strengths for a long term sustainable future
In the eight short years since the Niagara Health System has come together, we have developed a regional infrastructure to support our medical experts, nurses, allied health professionals in the work they do so well. We have an untapped opportunity to leverage our facilities and equipment to provide the best care we possibly can to our patients and their families. The vision we develop for future clinical services can build on this strength.
Quality in patient care comes first
While we have made some gains here in Niagara through new investments in clinical care, overall we are running the risk of falling behind. We have to make the most appropriate use of our valuable resources – our people, financial resources, facilities, technology and medical equipment – in the best interests of the patients we serve. The status quo in hospital care is no longer an option for NHS if we are going to live up to our quality commitment. We must do things differently to meet the future needs of our patients in an affordable and responsible way.
Responsive to our population health needs
Our population is older and is continuing to age across Niagara. As we look to the future we must be responsive to the people we will be providing services to. This means that we may not necessarily be providing the same spectrum of services at all sites that we have in the past provided.
Community Engagement matters
We believe everyone is a stakeholder when it comes to health-care. We undertook community engagement to capture the views of the people we serve – the people of Niagara. The comments we received through community engagement have been shared with the LHIN as part of our submission.
Change is long term and will not happen overnight
We need to take this step by step. The first step is feedback from our LHIN. Following commentary and clarification from the LHIN and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care we can work through the next phase of any changes to come.
Better environments for healthcare delivery, quality of work life, teaching and learning
Clinical realignment for the purpose of improving quality, experience and outcomes makes good sense for the patients we serve. Granted some people may have to travel outside of their home community for a certain service and we acknowledge that up front and will mitigate that inconvenience wherever possible. We hope that by creating centres of excellence in care areas, we can improve the work experience for our valued health professionals and advance teaching and learning experiences for the next generation of care providers and health professionals that come to Niagara to train with us.