An expanded role for the Northwest Local Health Integration Network.
It’s the agency responsible for planning, funding and intergrating the area’s health care services.
Director of Health Systems Jessica Logozzo says a new mandate has been presented from the province’s Health Minister outlining key priorities and broad performance targets they’ll be accountable on.
Logozzo says the priorities relate to putting patients at the centre and delivering care responsive to their needs.
She says it is a path the LHIN has been already following for the past five years.
The new mandate come as the LHIN works on a new health service plan, Logozzo says aligns with the province’s Patient’s First strategy.
The agency is also working on the transition of the Northwest Community Care Access Centre into the LHIN which will take place in late June.
Meantime, Fort Frances town councillors took advantage of the LHIN presentation to express concerns of their own with the local health care system.
Councillor June Caul says priority number one for her remains the need for an assisted living facility.
Councillor Wendy Brunetta expressed concern with patients from the Rainy River district travelling out of the area to see specialists, only to be caught up in lengthy wait times.
Brunetta suggesting specialist and doctors traveling to area communities instead to see those patients.