7 December 2019
Back Row - Standing Left to Right – Noojmowin Teg Executive Director, Pam Williamson, MHC President & CEO, Lynn Foster, MHC VP Corporate Support Services & CFO, Tim Vine, MHC Chief of Staff, Dr. Stephen Cooper, MHC VP Clinical Services & CNO, Paula Fields, and Mindemoya physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor.
Front Row – Seated from Left to Right – Manitoulin Lodge Administrator, Sue Farren, Assiginack FHT Executive Director, Sandra Pennie, Health Sciences North Community Mental Health Lead, Amanda Conrad and Manitoulin Central FHT Executive Director, Lori Oswald.
Back in March 2019, the Provincial government announced plans to dissolve the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) model of regional health co-ordination in favour of Ontario Health Teams(OHTs). Groups of healthcare providers were invited to complete self-assessment applications outlining what services their region currently provides, how they work together and how their structure would fit the new OHT model. The first round of self-assessment submissions occurred in April 2019, with some applicants being invited to submit full applications by October 9, 2019.
A second round of applications was opened up and on November 27, 2019 several members of the Manitoulin Collaborative, a group of Island health care providers, attended a meeting to sign their support of the self-assessment application for Manitoulin Island. Signatures on the self-assessment document are non-binding; they merely indicate the partners’ willingness to proceed with the application to the Ministry of Health.
Members of the Manitoulin Collaborative now wait to see if they will be invited to complete the full application. The next invitation for full application submission is expected in March 2020.
