THUNDER BAY – HEALTH – On June 30, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) unveiled its new Strategic Plan 2020 which focuses its activities and initiatives for the next five years on five strategic directions: Patient Experience, Comprehensive Clinical Care, Seniors’ Health, Aboriginal Health, and Acute Mental Health.
“The five strategic directions provide the roadmap to achieving our mission,” said Dr. Bill McCready, Interim President & CEO at TBRHSC and Interim CEO at Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute. “The success criteria identified for each strategic direction clearly describe the outcomes we wish to achieve. Linking our performance measures to these success criteria will surely keep us focused on what is have been identified as the most important health needs of the people of Northwestern Ontario.”
The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation is committed to supporting the success of the Strategic Plan through community donations. “There’s nothing more important than our health, and this plan lays the groundwork for our ongoing journey of providing world-class healthcare,” said Glenn Craig, President & CEO of the Health Sciences Foundation. “Thanks to the generosity of our community, we are prepared to work alongside the Health Sciences Centre to direct funding for new equipment and programs that will enable the achievement of the five strategic directions identified in this new plan.”
The Plan is based on both a comprehensive environmental scan of Northwestern Ontario and the feedback received from stakeholders. Beginning in January 2015, TBRHSC engaged some 1,300 people in Northwestern Ontario through online surveys; printed surveys; and 17 community focus group sessions.
“We wanted to hear from our 5 Partners in Health including Health Managers, Policy Makers, Health Professionals, Academic Institutions, and Communities – including Francophone and Aboriginal residents, and newcomers to Canada – in order to gather input and shape a new Strategic Plan,” said Dr. McCready.
Peter Hindle, a scientist for a local forestry research firm and Lakehead University student participated in TBRHSC’s strategic planning process. “I think it’s gratifying that you have an organization engaging the community, adhering to the principle of social accountability, to tailor the hospital to meet the needs of the community,” said Hindle.
“If people feel they’re contributing to a goal, it helps improve their satisfaction in the services they receive at the hospital. I definitely see that a lot of the input of mine and others helped shape the Strategic Plan. I’m looking forward to seeing where we’re going to take things next. At the end of the day, you can say, ‘I contributed to the strategic direction of my hospital.’”
The Patient and Family Centred Care (PFCC) philosophy is embedded in the 2020 plan. In its mission statement, TBRHSC promises to deliver a quality patient experience. That is why TBRHSC will focus attention on all elements of the Patient Experience as one of the five strategic priorities.
Another priority is to enhance the Comprehensive Clinical Care that transcends the organization and touches all patients. TBRHSC will also focus on the particular patient populations with the greatest health care needs in three Strategic Directions: Seniors’ Health, Aboriginal Health, and Acute Mental Health.
“We are thankful that the PATIENT is always at the centre of everything we do and that is why we are looking forward to seeing what we will achieve together as we move forward in our Strategic Plan 2020,” said Keith Taylor, Co-Chair of the Patient Family Advisor (PFA) Council “It proves what we always knew – that getting patients and community involved in the future of the hospital would pay off in a big way.”
Setting the Strategic Directions and monitoring of Strategic Plan 2020 progress are key responsibilities of the Board of Directors. “On behalf of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, I would like to thank our staff, community and partners for their commitment to the Strategic Plan 2020,” said Nadine Doucette, Chair of the Board of Directors. “Their participation will have a long-standing impact on patient care here in our community.”
The 5 Partners in Health will meet annually to ensure the plan remains relevant to the needs of patients and families. “The Strategic Plan is a dynamic document and will evolve to include measurable actions to achieve each of the goals identified under the five strategic directions. These goals and actions will serve as a guide to the successful realization of our vision: Healthy Together,” said Rod Morrison, EVP, Health Human Resources, Planning & Strategy at TBRHSC.
To see the Strategic Plan 2020, please visit www.tbrhsc.net.
