Local Health Integration Network

A Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) is a type of health organization in Ontario, Canada.

Across the province of Ontario there are 14 LHINs. The LHINs have been given the mandate for planning, integrating and funding health care services at a local level. LHINs are locally based and have a quality community engagement [ [http://wellesleyinstitute.ca/ITGUpload/doc/83/Gardner%20Presentation%20to%20OHA%20June%2026%2006.pdf PDF] ] .

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LHINs are community-based, non-profit organizations funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to plan, fund and coordinate services delivered by:
* Hospitals
* Long-Term Care Homes
* Community Care Access Centre (CCAC)
* Community Support Service Agencies
* Mental Health and Addiction Agencies
* Community Health Centres (CHCs)

What will LHINs do?

Prior to the formation of LHINs, health care services in Ontario were fragmented and many health care providers delivered care in isolation. Patients and their loved ones were forced to make their own way through a very complex health system as they moved from one health service provider to another. LHINs were created to change this. In March 2006, the Local Health System Integration Act, 2006 transformed the way the Ontario health care system is managed.

While LHINs do not directly provide services, the mandate is to plan, integrate and fund health care services. At a local level based on community needs the LHINs oversee nearly two-thirds of the health care budget in Ontario - $37.9 billion.

Quotation

Using health care dollars effectively

The LHINs strive to ensure that health care dollars are spent efficiently and effectively, yielding the best results possible. Accountability agreements between health care providers and LHINs, and between LHINs and government, ensure the responsible use of precious health care resources and the sustainability of the health care system for generations to come.

How LHINs are governed

The LHINs operate as not-for-profit organizations (crown corporations) governed by boards of directors who were appointed by the province after a rigorous skill and merit-based selection process. Each LHIN has nine board members. The board of directors is responsible for the management and control of the affairs of the LHIN and is the key point of interaction with the ministry. CEOs were selected after an extensive search and selection process and report directly to the LHIN boards.

LHIN Locations

* 1. [http://www.eriestclairlhin.on.ca/ Erie St. Clair]
* 2. [http://www.southwestlhin.on.ca/ South West]
* 3. [http://www.waterloowellingtonlhin.on.ca/ Waterloo Wellington]
* 4. [http://www.hnhblhin.on.ca/ Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant]
* 5. [http://www.centralwestlhin.on.ca/ Central West]
* 6. [http://www.mississaugahaltonlhin.on.ca/ Mississauga Halton]
* 7. [http://www.torontocentrallhin.on.ca/ Toronto Central]
* 8. [http://www.centrallhin.on.ca/ Central]
* 9. [http://www.centraleastlhin.on.ca/ Central East]
* 10. [http://www.southeastlhin.on.ca/ South East]
* 11. [http://www.champlainlhin.on.ca/ Champlain]
* 12. [http://www.nsmlhin.on.ca/ North Simcoe Muskoka]
* 13. [http://www.nelhin.on.ca/ North East]
* 14. [http://www.northwestlhin.on.ca/ North West]

The following map identifies by this numbering the locations of the 14 LHINS:
* [http://www.lhins.on.ca/img/ontario-lhins-map.gifMap of the 14 locations]

Erie St. Clair LHIN

The Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network [ [http://www.eriestclairlhin.on.ca/home.aspx Local Health Integration Network ] ] services the regions of Chatham-Kent, Sarnia–Lambton and Windsor-Essex. Its area includes over 650,000 people and supports an annual budget of over $850 million dollars for local healthcare services.

Erie St. Clair LHIN Profile Information

County	Population	Largest Urban Centre	Profile
Essex	410,000	Windsor (56%)	3 .8% Francophone 1.2% Aboriginal 11.4% Visible Minorities
Chatham-Kent	109,000	Chatham (39%)	4.0% Francophone 2.0% Aboriginal 3.8% Visible Minorities
Lambton	132,000	Sarnia (56%)	2.4% Francophone 4.3% Aboriginal 2.3% Visible Minorities

When compared to the Ontario average, there are significant variances that impact the health service needs of Erie St. Clair residents:

* A higher proportion of seniors and a lower proportion of individuals in the 25-39 year age group
* A higher unemployment rate
* A significantly higher incidence of overweight/obese individuals
* A slightly higher proportion of individuals who practice poor lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking, poor nutrition and inactivity
* A significantly higher prevalence of arthritis/rheumatism
* A slightly higher rate of other chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure
* Significantly higher rates of hospitalization, potential years of life lost, and mortality due to higher rates of neoplasm, circulatory disease and external causes such as injury

Erie St. Clair LHIN Key Provincial Strategies

The ESC LHINs Integrated Health Service Plan (IHSP) was released in December 2006. It sets the direction of the ESC LHIN planning for the next 3 years.

The LHIN has identified 8 key provincial strategies:

* 1 - Chronic disease management
* 2 - Reduce dependence on hospital bed services
* 3 - Supporting people at home
* 4 - Back office/administration integration
* 5 - System navigation
* 6 - Health human resources
* 7 - Health promotion and illness prevention
* 8 - Timely access to appropriate care and services

Notes

External links

* [http://www.health.gov.on.ca/transformation/lhin/lhin_mn.html Source, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care]
* [http://www.lhins.on.ca/Page.aspx?id=420&ekmensel=e2f22c9a_72_278_btnlink Source, Message from the Ontario Minister of Health]