Links
http://www.eriestclairlhin.on.ca
Integrated Health Service Plan
Equity Highlights
- The LHIN is committed to ensuring equity and access for patients requiring mental health services
- The LHIN is also focusing on geographic equity
Current Initatives
(1) Chatham-Kent Community Health Centre
- CHCs use a community development approach to health care to identify and provide services to those who face access barriers such as language, poverty, disabilities or geography and who have a higher risk of developing health problems
- A programs and services plan for the Chatham-Kent CHC was recently approved by the LHIN
- The plan calls for more than 19 staff to provide primary care services plus administrative support and a budget of $3.7 million
- Staffing includes physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, a dietitician, health promoters and other allied health professionals
- Priority populations include: seniors, the economically disadvantaged, children and youth, individuals with mental illness and addiction, First Nations, people with disabilities, victims of abuse and violence, individuals who face communication barriers to access services and seasonal workers
(2) Essex County Community Health Centre
- The LHIN is launching a review of the CHC in Windsor/Essex to (1) realign CHC resources and processes that will be the foundation for primary care services in Windsor/Essex and (2) to design a future model and staged implementation plan for the Windsor/Essex CHC over the next 5 years
- This system will focus on delivering sustainable, integrated and coordinated services that meet the needs of the local population
IHSP
- The LHIN’s guiding principles for decision-making include a commitment to service equity, innovation and diversity
- Equity and respect for diversity is a key principle
- The LHIN recognizes the social determinants of health and the need to develop integrated health promotion (including cultural diversity)
- Integrated health promotion attempts to close equity gaps by recognizing that cultural diversity creates inequalities, supporting social networks, developing and advocating health public policies and strengthening community capacity
The LHIN’s commitment to service equity and diversity is a guiding principle for decision-making and decision criteria