Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre and University Health Network Awarded for Value-Based Healthcare
by Maryanne Matthews
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at University Health Network are working together to deliver cardiovascular surgical care, closer to home for patients in Northwestern Ontario. Both organizations were recognized by the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL) for delivering value-based healthcare and for deliberately changing the way that care is delivered, resulting in improved patient outcomes. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and University Health Network (UHN) are the 2018 recipients of the Recognition in Delivering Value-based Healthcare award.
This recognition, awarded by the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL), aims to increase the profile and understanding of value-based healthcare by honoring an organization, or team, that is deliberate in changing the way that care is delivered, resulting in improved patient outcomes. This means that patients are being optimally cared for at the right time, in the right setting and at the right cost.
The burden of cardiovascular disease in the North West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) is extremely high. To significantly improve care for cardiovascular patients in our region, our Hospital and UHN developed the “One Program on Two Sites” model for the provision of Cardiac and Vascular Surgical services. This model will save lives and limbs, address the burden of cardiovascular disease, and improve access to services.
“We’re very honoured to receive this award from CCHL, which recognizes our commitment to meeting the specialized acute care needs of the people of Northwestern Ontario,” said Jean Bartkowiak, President and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. “Access to comprehensive cardiovascular surgical care, closer to home, will greatly benefit an isolated region where cardiovascular conditions are well above the provincial average, resulting in an improved quality of care and quality of life for thousands of patients and their families. We’re grateful to our partners at UHN for working with us to make this possible.”
“This award from CCHL is a direct result of the productive partnership between Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre (PMCC) at UHN that began 6 years ago with one objective – to eliminate the need for patients in Northwestern Ontario to have to leave home to obtain cardiac and vascular surgical care” said Barry Rubin, Medical Director of the PMCC. Together, we will ensure that the quality of care delivered to patients through our “One Program on Two Sites” model will be identical at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and the PMCC, and will be at the highest international level.”
For more information about this award and the CCHL’s National Awards Program please visit www.cchl-ccls.ca.
For more information about cardiovascular care at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre please visit www.tbrhsc.net.
For more information about University Health Network, please visit www.uhn.ca.
