Unique Partnership Identifies Opportunities to Work Together to Improve the Health of People in Northern Ontario

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earlier today, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM), the North East Local Health Integration Network (NE LHIN), and the North West Local Health Integration Network (NW LHIN), signed a Collaboration Agreement which will allow the three parties to collaborate in several areas to enhance their shared mandates of social accountability and community engagement.

During a media and information event held today, the three organizations with a vested interest in improving the status of the delivery of health care across Northern Ontario, highlighted their complementary resources, common approaches, and shared objectives that provide a solid foundation to work together.

The Agreement will see NOSM, the NE LHIN and the NW LHIN collaborate in such areas as:

• Research
  Both the LHINs and NOSM have a focus on research. There are opportunities for the partners to share clinical best practices and research into population health.
• Planning Activities
  A number of LHINs and NOSM planning activities can be enhanced through collaboration. For example, taking into consideration the input received by NOSM regarding local community needs in the development of the LHINs’ regional human resource planning initiatives will be invaluable.
• Population-Specific Projects
  The LHINs and NOSM will work together to address the unique needs of Aboriginal, Francophone, northern rural, remote and urban communities.
• Sharing of Skills and Expertise Between Organization
  The LHINs and NOSM will share skills and expertise in the areas of research and access to planning networks, as well as the Northern Ontario Virtual Library, among other opportunities.
• Education
  Both the LHINs and NOSM have a shared interest in facilitating ongoing education and professional development for health service providers in their communities.
  “Each of our organizations is committed to working together to improve the health of the people and the communities of the North,” stated Gwen DuBois-Wing, CEO of the North West LHIN. “We have a unique opportunity to have new conversations, explore new possibilities and to share skills, resources and expertise — all in the interest of the people we collectively serve.”

“This Collaboration Agreement offers a unique partnership for three organizations with a vested interest in helping to improve the delivery of health care in Northern Ontario. By sharing resources, expertise and project outcomes, we will be one step closer to achieving health-care programs that are reflective of the needs of Northern Ontarians,” said Rémy Beaudoin, CEO of the North East LHIN.

“A significant component of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s social accountability mandate is to build and cultivate relationships with health centres, hospitals and other health organizations across Northern Ontario to facilitate common goals,” said Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM’s Founding Dean. “This Collaboration Agreement between the Medical School and the LHINs of Northern Ontario is truly a historic one that will allow us to maximize the positive impact our organizations are having in the regions to which we’re accountable,” he continued.

The Collaboration Agreement provides the potential for NOSM and the two LHINs to build a sustainable health system with greater access to medical services at the community level, and better health outcomes for the people of Northern Ontario.

The North East and North West LHIN are two of fourteen regional networks in Ontario created to plan, integrate and fund local health services. The LHIN’s are responsible for leading the transformation of the local health care system and work closely with health service providers including hospitals, the CCAC’s, long term care facilities and consumers and their families to integrate health care practices into a model that works for the people of Northern Ontario.

On November 16, 2007, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) hosted a successful Palliative Care conference in conjunction with Pfizer, Purdue and Paladin Labs. Dr. Andrew Knight, local General Practitioner in Oncology, Palliative Care Lead for the Northeast and NOSM Associate Professor, welcomed more than 120 participants and health-care professionals from across Northern Ontario.

An array of notable health-care professionals, including Drs. Deborah Dudgeon and Natalie Kontakos, presented plenary sessions that covered a wide range of issues, such as The Provincial Palliative Care Integration Project and Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale and The Palliative Performance Scale and Prognostication. The guiding principles of palliative care were discussed in depth to ensure sensitization to, and understanding of, persons living with a life-threatening illness. Participants also had the opportunity to enhance their skills to be better able to respond to patients and families dealing with end-of-life care.

“The Palliative Care conference is a great accomplishment for our community and Northern Ontario as it offered an opportunity for health-care providers to meet, share experiences and learn about topics relating to the important issue of palliative care,” said Dr. Andrew Knight, co-chair of the Palliative Care Advisory Committee. “This conference is a result of the hard work and dedication of a variety of committee members,” he said.

The Palliative Care conference is one of many conferences hosted by NOSM in recent months. The event was well attended and an occasion for all participants to network and draw upon the expertise and experience of palliative care specialists.

On October 24 – 26, 2007, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) hosted the first annual Pan Northern Geriatric Care Conference in partnership with First Link; Alzheimer Society of Sudbury-Manitoulin; North East Mental Health Centre; City of Greater Sudbury; Northeastern Ontario Dementia Assessment and Consultation Services; and, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, and in collaboration with Réseau de santé en français du Moyen-Nord de l’Ontario.

Drs. Joanne Clark and Maurice St. Martin, co-chairs of the event, welcomed more than 125 participants to the first conference of its kind in Northern Ontario. An array of notable health-care professionals, including Drs. Clark and St. Martin, presented plenary sessions on a variety of topics aimed at increasing physicians, nurses, social workers and other health professionals’ knowledge of dementia treatment, falls prevention, nutrition, assessment, healing differences, stroke prevention and pain management.

Access to care for the elderly and the importance of geriatric care to address changing demographics were discussed by Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriguez during his welcoming remarks. Mayor Rodriguez also thanked those in attendance that work with seniors and the elderly, commenting that it is an opportunity to repay seniors for all they have done in our community.

“The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is proud to have co-hosted this exciting conference,” said Dr. Marc Blayney, NOSM Vice Dean, Professional Activities. “The first annual Pan Northern Geriatric Care Conference is a result of the hard work and dedication of a variety of health professionals and educators who have come together to participate in workshops that focus on important issues affecting seniors in Northern Ontario.” Dr. Blayney also acknowledged the presence of NOSM students as conference participants, and speculated that “the students’ interest in this important area of medicine is a result of the innovative curriculum offered by the School.”

The Pan Northern Geriatric Care Conference was well attended and an occasion for all participants to network and draw upon the expertise and experience of geriatric specialists.