Vision for the Restructuring of Health Services in Northwestern Ontario :
Improve the health status of people in Northwestern Ontario through an emphasis on health education, disease prevention, health maintenance and access to health services that incorporates the physical and mental health of the population.

This vision requires significant attention to the restructuring, integration and enhancement of primary community care and primary hospital care. The recommendations in this report will maximize the population's access to health services by integrating services along the continuum of care, emphasizing culturally sensitive service delivery and providing services as close to home as is feasible with respect to the safety of care, quality of care and the economics of the care delivery systems.

The Report of the Special Advisor contains the recommendations that will provide the best opportunities for system enhancement, while clarifying the important role of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) within the system. The Hay Report to the Special Advisor includes all of the data gathered over the past nine months in Northwestern Ontario, literature reviews, summaries of consultations that took place during that time and summaries of over 70 submissions received from the community with regard to the work of the Special Advisor. In addition, the Special Advisor received invaluable advice and assistance from a Steering Committee made up of community leaders and health care professionals who live and work throughout Northwestern Ontario.

The Report of the Special Advisor, as well as the Project Report Submitted to the Special Advisor may be downloaded below.

REPORT Integrated Service Plan for Northwestern Ontario : Report of the Special Advisor, Tom Closson 16 pages | 190 k | PDF format

REPORT Integrated Service Plan for Northwestern Ontario : Project Report Submitted to the Special Advisor 284 pages | 981 k | PDF format

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August 2005