Representatives from 26 hospitals covered by the North East Local Health Integration (NE LHIN) met with the organization last month to identify issues facing rural health care in northeast Ontario.
The summit was held in Sault Ste. Marie, and participants identified five themes for the north. Collaboration, communication, programs and services, technology, and human resources were pin-pointed as issues affecting health care delivery in rural northeastern Ontario.
“With approximately 40 per cent of our northeastern Ontario population living in rural communities, compared to 15 per cent provincially, it’s very important that we work together to respond to our region’s health care delivery challenges,” Louise Paquette, NE LHIN CEO, stated in a press release. “It’s critical that these communities have a voice in shaping the delivery of healthcare.”
There will be a follow up for summit participants in a year.