Assessing the Removal of Regional Health Authorities in Ontario

Abstract

A little more than a decade ago, a series of regional bodies were introduced throughout Ontario to help resolve difficulties with the province’s health care system. The Local Health Integration Networks, the name given to the new health entities, sought to create a connected set of health services and to achieve more effective control and distribution of health care finances. A third intent was to engage the community when setting priorities for health care. Recently, the new government of Ontario replaced the LHINs with a single health authority. It asserted that the single authority was better equipped to handle the many problems that still prevailed. An assessment of this decision offers some grounds for disbanding the LHINs. However, the findings offer stronger support for the alternative of keeping the regional authorities and providing them with greater autonomy.

Expectations of the Ontario Healthcare System following the Implementation of Ontario Health Teams

“…As these improvements in healthcare services—which included non-medical services—started to become more visible, a new problem arose; fragmentation (Barker, 2007). If many separate providers, each to their own speciality are present, then that creates individual medical houses that are separate to each other (Barker, 2007).…”

“…As these improvements in healthcare services-which included non-medical services-started to become more visible, a new problem arose; fragmentation (Barker, 2007). If many separate providers, each to their own speciality are present, then that creates individual medical houses that are separate to each other (Barker, 2007). While independence is key in running medical organisations, collaboration and communication are notable solutions in delivering effective and sustainable medical care (Barker, 2007).…”

“…In response to the growing complexities of the system as well as a greater demographic burden, the government of Ontario established 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) that would cater to different districts and boroughs across Ontario in 2006 (Barker, 2007). The goal of these networks was to handle regional funding and healthcare resources (Barker, 2007).…”

“…In response to the growing complexities of the system as well as a greater demographic burden, the government of Ontario established 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) that would cater to different districts and boroughs across Ontario in 2006 (Barker, 2007). The goal of these networks was to handle regional funding and healthcare resources (Barker, 2007). LHINs would work to integrate healthcare services for patient populations through hospital and clinic boards to lower cost, improve service efficacy and allocate resources/strategic planning to overcome systemic hurdles (Barker, 2007).…”

“…The goal of these networks was to handle regional funding and healthcare resources (Barker, 2007). LHINs would work to integrate healthcare services for patient populations through hospital and clinic boards to lower cost, improve service efficacy and allocate resources/strategic planning to overcome systemic hurdles (Barker, 2007).…”