LHINs will help people navigate system: Durham access centre
Tuesday, October 26, 2004 - Roderick Benns
Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) are a welcome opportunity that should streamline the health services field, according to Esther Filer, community and public relations co-ordinator for Durham Access to Care.

Filer says the concept of integrating health services is an important move to make, especially from a client perspective. "If you have a sick child, having to navigate the system, re-telling your story over and over makes little sense," she 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 provider organizations will continue to be relied upon to deliver services.

Filer says LHINs are a welcome opportunity for all the health sectors, including long-term care.

"By the time an individual comes to a long-term care environment, that person often has a compromised medical situation. So it would be ideal if their history comes with them in the form of some kind of electronic file that is instantly accessible," she says.

"That, in part, has to be what an integrated system has to look like."

According to the provincial government, LHINs will enhance and support local capacity to plan, co-ordinate, integrate and fund the delivery of health services at the community level.

It isn’t yet known if LHINs will encompass community access centres or if access centres will remain outside of the LHINs model. Either way, says Filer, it’s the client’s perspective that matters most.

"Perhaps the fear of being swallowed up exists, but when we each look at this from the client’s perspective, that’s where the big picture is. The Ministry (of Health and Long-Term Care) will frown upon people who dig their heels in" just to protect their individual interests, she notes.

Filer says Durham Access to Care has many outstanding community partnerships which can be built upon once restructuring occurs due to the LHINs model.

"As an organization, we’re optimistic, even as we sit with our breath drawn as we wait to see what the end result will be."