Full Steam Ahead: Anna Greenberg, Director, Transformation Secretariat

Welcome to the new monthly newsletter from the Transformation Secretariat! We hope you like the new look. The newsletter will feature updates, results, what is working and patient stories from across the province.

First, I am pleased to report that Helen Angus's recent appointment to Interim Deputy Minister has been a smooth transition for our team. Deputy Angus continues to lead the Transformation Secretariat in addition to her new role, and you won't be surprised to hear that her passion for Health Links and the transformation agenda is very much intact.

I have been amazed by the enthusiasm across the sector for the Health Links initiative. It's quite remarkable when you consider that it is all about embracing complexity. Instead of being the challenging exception or outlier group, Ontario patients with the most complex needs are the model patients for Health Links, and the system is retooling care delivery to put their needs front and centre.

We're also pleased to share our new whiteboard video about what a Health Link does. Please share it with your colleagues. 47 Health Links and counting...

Watch Video (French) ￫ Watch Video (English) ￫

Health Links Wins: David Lamb, Manager, Policy, Transformation Secretariat

Through participation in Quarterly Reporting and the Rapid Cycle Evaluation exercise, we are starting to develop a clear picture of the work that takes place to coordinate care for complex patients, as well as the challenges and success that have been experienced.

It's important to share the results and perceptions of the journey so far.

We're seeing good progress! The level of innovation and creativity, with respect to coordinating care and its relationship to strong patient engagement at all levels of the process of establishing Health Links, is clearly paying off.

We know there's more to do to provide clarity on certain issues (information and privacy, data sharing and the progression of the Ministry-led Care Coordination Tool) and we will work with our partners in these areas to provide the help that is needed.

Action Plan: 2nd Progress Report

On January 27, 2014, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Deb Matthews spoke to business and health care leaders about the achievements the government has made on the second anniversary of Ontario's Action Plan for Health Care, the government's roadmap for the transformation of the health care system.

As Minister Matthews outlined in her speech, it's with this roadmap that the government has been able to provide better quality services for Ontarians at a lower cost curve, going from six to seven per cent annual growth in spending to an average of two per cent growth this year. Minister Matthews talked about some of the successes to come out of the Action Plan.

Read Ontario's Action Plan For Healthcare ￫ Read the Two Year Report ￫

How to register for Health Links and Health System Funding Reform (HSFR) Health System Information Management and Investment (HSIMI) sites

Calling all Health Links participants - Join the Health Links Collaboration Portal by contacting your LHIN Health Link lead.

On the Health System Funding Reform website for providers you will find the HSFR page and a repository of HSFR resources, including Health Based Allocation Model (HBAM) results and education materials.

Health Links Portal ￫ HSFR site for providers ￫

Thank you!

Over a year ago 19 early adopter Health Links put health system transformation in motion. Today, 47 Health Links covering a catchment area of more than seven million people are in place. More than half of Ontario's population can now access a Health Link and the number of Health Links province-wide is set to reach more than 90 by 2015.

As noted, we also have our first set of evaluation results in hand. Thank you for your continued participation in the Rapid Cycle Evaluation - we will continue to share the results with you and work together to make continuous improvements to the Health Links model, big and small.

Up Next

HSFR Success Story "Helping patients see clearly"

Healthy Kids Community Challenge: How you can get your community involved!

Transformation On The Move