Stakeholder Engagement

CHN PLANNING PANDEMIC WORKSHOPS TO PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEST PANDEMIC PLANS

The CHN is coordinating participation of its members in a series of Planning Days to review the progress that has been made with respect to pandemic planning for the maternal, newborn, and paediatric populations. The Planning Days will involve CHN members in a facilitated table-top exercise to test their organizational plans in simulated scenarios that will require a system-level response. The first workshop is scheduled for Thursday, May 15, 2008, with a second workshop being planned for the Fall 2008. Participants at the workshops will be organized by LHIN and will provide an opportunity to ‘test’ current plans through participation in table-top exercises.

The Planning Workshops build on the previous work undertaken by the CHN to facilitate linkages and discussions among CHN members. [Click here for a copy of the discussion paper]

STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LHINs
The CHN is continuing to meet with the five (5) Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) within its membership catchment area to explore opportunities to work together to strengthen planning, coordination and integration of services for the maternal/newborn and paediatric population within and across LHINs.

The CHN’s efforts to plan, coordinate and integrate health care services for the maternal/newborn and paediatric populations across the five LHINs is focused on exploring opportunities to utilize solid evidence and information arising from:

  • Current databases and data management initiatives (e.g., the Niday Perinatal Database system, the CHN Paediatric Indicator Project).
  • Previous planning efforts (e.g., 2003-05 Internal Review process undertaken by the CHN in response to a request by the MOHLTC).
  • Existing policy guidelines/documents e.g., MOHLTC endorsed scope of service guidelines for levels of maternal/newborn and paediatric care).
  • Human resource initiatives (e.g., human resource planning, recruitment, inter-professional models of care emerging across the Network).

Milestones achieved in advancing the LHIN/CHN partnership have included:

  • A series of meetings with LHIN staff to increase understanding the current organization of maternal/ and paediatric health care services across the province and regions.
  • Confirmation of “Endorsements of Support” by the Central East LHIN, Central West LHIN, and Central LHIN supporting the CHN’s proposal to invite hospitals within their regions whom are not currently members of the CHN to join the Network.
  • Inclusion of a LHIN analysis as part of the Niday Annual Report and the PIP Report.
  • An opportunity to be part of LHIN-based planning teams for maternal/newborn and paediatric services.

Future plans to strengthen the LHIN/CHN partnership include:

  • Providing objective expert evidence and information to support LHINs as they engage their communities in planning for the maternal/newborn and paediatric populations.
  • Facilitating cross-LHIN planning among the five LHINs with a focus on educating target audiences about what these linkages can offer in terms of improved health outcomes for mothers, newborns and children.
  • Testing innovative solutions (built on collaboration and partnership) to improve care delivery for mothers, newborns and children that could be a model for positive change elsewhere in Ontario and across the country.

[Click here for Terms of Reference document]

[Click here for a copy of the Discussion paper]

FAMILY-CENTERED CARE

At the centre of the work of the CHN is a commitment to family-centered care. This ‘approach’ facilitates the involvement of families and patients with health care professionals in the design, implementation, and evaluation of health care policies, programs and environments.

The CHN has developed the following definition of family-centered care as the basis for furthering awareness and integration of family-centerd care into program and policy planning and the provision of care across the Network:

  1. Family-centered care is a philosophy and an approach to health care that shapes the provision of care, programs, policies and facility design. It reflects values and attitudes more than protocol. Family-centered practitioners recognize the vital role that families play as members of the health care team, and in ensuring the health and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and family members of all ages. They acknowledge that emotional, social, cultural, and developmental support are integral components of health care. With this approach they:

    1. - Empower children and families and foster independence;
    2. - Support children and families in decision- making and caregiving;
    3. - Build on individual and family strengths and respect their choices; and
    4. - Involve children and families in all aspects of the planning, delivery and evaluation of health care services.

  2. Members of the network embrace the philosophy of family-centered care – both at the Network and organizational level – in recognition of the central role played by families in ensuring the health and well-being of family members of all ages.

The CHN has developed a set of common guidelines/standards to promote adoption and consistency in implementing family centered care. Family Centered Care-2003