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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, F eb ru ar y 14 ,2 01 9 | 2 905.845.1681 410 South Service Road West buddschev.com DOOR CRASHER SPECIAL! GM Optikleen Windshield Washer Fluid Regular �6.00/bottle Door Crasher@ �3.85/bottle ACT NOW FOR THE BEST PRICE ONWINTER TIRES WITH YOUR SCOTIABANK GM VISA CARD 45 YOUR NEXT OIL CHANGE PACKAGE PLUS GET The family business that service built. The family business that service built. Certified Service Conditions apply. Visit MyCertifiedService.ca for details. As the Ontario government discusses the development of a new health-care strategy, it re- mains unclear whether that strategy will include the Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs). Recent media stories support- ed by leaked documents have ad- vanced the theory that, in its search for efficiencies, the Doug Ford government will either re- duce the number of LHINs in On- tario or abolish them altogether. The Mississauga Halton LHIN says it is currently in the dark with regard to what the future will bring. "We are aware of the recent media stories speculating chang- es to the LHIN structure," said Laura Zilke, a communications strategist with the Mississauga Halton LHIN. "The LHIN has not been ad- vised by the ministry of any for- mal decisions." The Dalton McGuinty Liberal government created a total of 14 LHINs across Ontario in 2006 with a mandate to plan, co-ordi- nate, integrate and fund health services at the local level, includ- ing: • Hospitals • Community health centres • Long-term care homes • Mental-health and addiction agencies • Community support service agencies They replaced seven regional Ministry of Health offices and several district health councils. The idea was that community- based care is best planned, co-or- dinated and funded in an inte- grated manner at the community level because local people are best able to determine their health-service needs and priori- ties. According to the Mississauga Halton LHIN website, LHINs work closely with local residents and health-service providers in their respective communities to identify their health-care needs and priorities. The website states LHINs were created with the belief that they would develop ways to im- prove access to services, respond to concerns people have about those services and look for ways for health-service providers to improve the quality of care. The Mississauga Halton LHIN stated in its 2016-2017 annual re- port "Through Our Lens" that for that period it received $1.537 bil- lion from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Of that to- tal, $1.531 billion was allocated to health-service providers. The report said $6.39 million was used for the LHIN's operat- ing allocation, which included $4.08 million to fund LHIN opera- tions and $2.31 million to fund other project initiatives such as the Enabling Technologies for In- tegration project (previously known as eHealth). According a recent auditor general report, it costs about $90 million annually to operate all 14 LHINs. Some of the things the LHINs are best known for include intro- ducing the Home First philoso- phy in 2008. This concept focuses on keep- ing patients - specifically high- needs seniors - in their homes for as long as possible through the use of community supports. LHIN investment in informa- tion management and informa- tion technology also helped facil- itate the adoption of electronic medical records. This change was intended to better enable the capture, management and shar- ing of personal health informa- tion. The Mississauga Halton LHIN has also seen several of its pro- grams recognized. In 2018, the Putting Patients at the Heart (PPATH) program was awarded the Minister's Medal Honouring Excellence in Health Quality and Safety. This program, which involved a partnership between Trillium Health Partners and SE Health, enables cardiac surgery patients to return home, on average, one day sooner, with 24-hour support. LHIN staff noted that, through the program, emergency room PROVINCE HAS YET TO COME OUT AND SAY WHAT FATE OF MISSISSAUGA HALTON LHIN WILL BE Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. Graham Paine/Metroland DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com NEWS See - page 3