I am happy to tell you that six of our local hospitals have signed on to be part of a shared diagnostic imaging repository (DI-r) project, a step that will certainly enhance quality of care.
To explain, diagnostic imaging includes x-rays, ultra-sounds, MRIs and CT scans. An individual in the hospital may need to have one or more of these images produced. If that individual moves to a different hospital, that hospital will now be able to access the image (s) via the computer. This saves the individual the need to bring their images with them, have duplicate images taken, and gives the physician immediate information.
Previously, this could not be done; hospitals’ computers are not all on the same ‘platform’ and don’t ‘talk’ to each other. The LHIN’s DI-r project connects all the hospitals’ PACS (Picture Archive and Communication Systems) to a central image and report repository that enables access to PACS information regardless of the platform.
Lydia Chudleigh, Vice President of St. Mary’s General Hospital said, “having patients’ diagnostic image and report historical records available to our Radiologists and our referring physician specialists will enhance quality of care and patient safety. This longitudinal record will facilitate real time collaboration between clinicians and more timely decision making.”
In addition to our hospitals participating in this program, hospitals in Southern Ontario LHINs are also participating – Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant LHIN, Southwest LHIN (London area) and Erie-St.Clair LHIN (Chatham/Windsor area). An individual having images produced in any of these areas’ hospitals can know that their information is readily accessible to hospital physicians when needed. Of course, security measures are in place to protect the individual’s privacy.
This is just the beginning. The DI-r project is expected to grow throughout the province.
Congratulations to our hospitals - St. Mary’s, Grand River, Cambridge Memorial, Guelph General, North Wellington Health Care Corporation (Mount Forest and Palmerston sites) and Groves Memorial, for their forward thinking and participation in this project.
CEO Past Messages - 2010
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Twice a year, Kathy Durst, Chair of the WWLHIN Board of Directors and I have the privilege of meeting with our local elected representatives. In January, February and March we will be travelling throughout the Waterloo Wellington area to make presentations at council meetings. A full list of the schedule can be found below.
In the early days of the WWLHIN, our presentations focused on what we called WWLHIN 101 – basic information about what the WWLHIN is all about – what we are established to do, what the challenges are and what we are accomplishing.
Even more importantly, these meetings with councils enabled us to hear from council members and others in attendance at the meetings, about their concerns for their specific communities. This type of community engagement goes a long way to helping us understand the unique needs of each community in the WWLHIN area.
There have been positive, specific outcomes from the meetings. The Wellington County Councils have each designated an individual to be a link between the WWLHIN and the councils to ensure members are kept up to date on activities. As well, a proposal was submitted for Aging at Home funding that led to the opening of a clinic in Drayton that brings services to seniors ‘Closer to Home’.
The WWLHIN does a great deal of research about health care in our community – such as trends, challenges, and changes. Many councils have asked us to share that ‘environmental scan’ data for their information.
In this next round of meetings, we will outline the health care plans for the future – specifically the next three years.
We have just completed the three year strategic plan for health care for our area - Working Together for a Healthier Future, Integrated Health Service Plan (IHSP) 2010 – 2013. This strategic plan identifies our community’s eight priorities for health care and what actions will be taken.
Both our presentation to councils and the complete IHSP can be found here on our website.
CEO Messages 2009
Municipal Council Presentations Winter/Spring 2010
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