But Dalgliesh points out there really is no reason to wait for LHINs to find effective community linkages, no matter what community one hails from.

"The question in Sault Ste. Marie, for instance, is what are we doing together now and what else can we do?" he explains. Dalgliesh has already found some answers, along with his peers from other community agencies.

For instance, about 18 months ago, Sault Area Hospital, Group Health Centre and the Algoma Community Care Access Centre combined their human resources departments, which involved about 15 to 20 people in total, he says.

As well, these same partners and a few others are combining on attractive technology strategies. And, more recently, there has been a move to look for innovative ways to co-ordinate electronic health records, says Dalgliesh.

"The concept of LHINs is good – to have sectors work together in focused geographic areas," the executive director says.

LHINs will integrate health services, according to the Province, but not by providing clinical services. Instead, LHINs are expected to co-ordinate service delivery. This means existing service provider organizations will continue to be relied upon to deliver services.

Dalgliesh says there are some potential challenges with the LHINs model to keep an eye on as they form. "What is the capacity for planning at the local level? How do you keep the corporate perspective and the community perspective in good two-way communication?" he says.

As well, Dalgliesh says just how exactly the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will allocate resources, once LHINs are funded, is unclear. But he says having a viable formula in place to fund hospitals, long-term care facilities, access centres and others, will be very important.

"It has to be a formula that will be perceived as equitable. That’s one you can see coming," he says.