Welcome to the first issue of Top of Mind

Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights. ~Pauline R. Kezer

As efforts to integrate and improve Ontario's health-care system evolve, it is more important than ever for decision-makers, health-care leaders, providers, and members of the public to be on top of the latest in integration news, policy, research and potential opportunities for collaboration. Our new e-newsletter will help you do just that.

The Foundation's new mandate as a health policy think tank will support and inform this collective integration journey -- through research, quality improvement projects in community and home care and exchanges.

Read our strategic plan (http://www.changefoundation.ca/strategic.html) and its favourable reviews.

Timing perfect & need real: Change Foundation research to support health integration and quality improvement

What is successful health integration?

No one -- neither policy-makers, administrators nor politicians -- understands precisely how to define, measure, and assess health integration and its impact on the public in a meaningful way. The Change Foundation intends to fill this gap by generating data, discussion and analysis to support the shift to an integrated health system in Ontario. We will identify inadequately addressed questions and produce findings relevant to government, the LHINs, other organizations, providers and the public.

Quality improvement in home care and the community

The Change Foundation's second research focus is on improving patient outcomes and experiences through quality improvement projects in the community and home-care sectors. To start, we will partner with the Ontario Association of Community Care Access Centres (OACCAC) to map out and improve the myriad interactions and decisions facing patients when they leave the hospital for home - wherever that may be.

The Change Foundation to listen and learn from patient experiences

The patient/public perspective on integration is key to the Foundation's work. In early 2008, the Foundation will assemble focus groups across the province to explore patients' views about the health-care system, seek recommendations for easier navigation, and learn what indicators of integration would be most meaningful to patients and their families and caregivers.

The Foundation will also be compiling a literature review on patient perspectives in integration to guide further work in this area.

The Foundation meets with LHIN CEOs

President and CEO Cathy Fooks and Chair Gail Donner met last month with LHIN CEOs to discuss ways of working together to help accelerate the integration of health care in Ontario. Read the presentation that got the discussion going - Research Agenda on Issues of Integration. This is one of many ongoing dialogues and collaborations focused on fixing the fragmentation of Ontario's health-care system. Read a related Toronto Star Op-Ed by Cathy Fooks and Steven Lewis.

Looking Ahead

Change Foundation President to speak at integration conference Jan. 25, 2008

Cathy Fooks will address what Ontario can learn from integration experience in Canada and abroad at The LHIN Agenda and the New Government

Change Foundation exchanges to be announced early in 2008

Exchanges will bring together health-care leaders, providers, government and the public with provincial, national and international experts to discuss key integration issues.

The Change Foundation, P.O. Box 42, 200 Front Street West, Suite 2501, Toronto, ON, M5V 3M1, Phone: 416.205.1353, Fax: 416.205.1440

Feedback appreciated. Please contact Anila Sunnak (asunnak@changefoundation.com).

View our privacy policy at (http://www.changefoundation.ca/privacy.html)