TORONTO, Feb. 2, 2015 /CNW/ - The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) welcomes the Government of Ontario's next phase of its Action Plan for Health Care, Patients First, released earlier today by Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Dr. Eric Hoskins.
"On behalf of the OHA and our members, I commend the government for making patient-centred care a top priority," said OHA President and CEO Anthony Dale. "Given the extraordinary fiscal challenges ahead, changes to the way health care services are delivered in Ontario are crucial to delivering the highest quality of care."
Ontario's updated Action Plan includes many ideas that the OHA and hospitals have supported in recent years.
The inclusion of accessibility as a key pillar in the Plan will help ensure better benchmarking of the number of beds or services in hospitals and the number of assisted living spaces, home care hours, primary care service and mental health services required to meet the needs of different populations.
The OHA has long advocated for the development of a capacity plan to ensure the health care system remains tenable and that funds are being allocated most effectively. To ensure patients have access to the right level of care, it is vital that the government know where and how to optimize health system services.
The OHA was also pleased to see the government recognize the importance of greater connectivity across the continuum of care. Expanding access to community-based care will ensure patients receive the care they need in the most appropriate setting and allow specialized facilities like hospitals to focus on treating patients with the most complex needs.
Expansion of services, such as Health Links, may also ensure that patients receive the most appropriate level of care. In the past few years, hospitals have been leaders in driving integrated models of care. Hospitals have overcome a variety of challenges of geography and economies of scale by creating collaborative health care systems known as health hubs, which have improved access to care, strengthened economic efficiencies and enhanced quality of care.
"Ontario hospitals are already leading large-scale transformation initiatives," said Pierre Noel, Chair of the OHA Board of Directors and President and CEO of Pembroke Regional Hospital. "We are eager to continue working with government and other health care providers to implement this Plan and protect the health care system in the months and years ahead."
Ontario Hospital Association
The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) is the voice of Ontario's public hospitals. Founded in 1924, the OHA uses advocacy, education and partnerships to build a strong, innovative and sustainable health care system for all Ontarians.
SOURCE Ontario Hospital Association
Akilah Dressekie, OHA Public Affairs, (416) 205-1376, [email protected]
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