Peter Hindle : Helping to Shape the Future of Healthcare in Northwestern Ontario

Between working as a scientist for a local forestry research firm and studying psychology at Lakehead University, Peter Hindle doesn’t have a lot of downtime.

But helping to shape the future of local healthcare delivery is something he believes is worth making time for.

Hindle first volunteered to participate in the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC)’s strategic planning process in 2011. He attended workshops and was involved in setting goals for the strategic directions of the previous Strategic Plan. Since then he has participated in follow-up meetings and progress reviews.

He says the few meetings for goal setting and progress updates have been relatively easy to fit into his schedule

Hindle’s interest in the hospital’s strategic planning stems from both his experience as a TBRHSC volunteer and his involvement in Lakehead University’s Student Union and Board of Governors. “I’m interested in the behind-the-scenes work, how goals are established and progress in reaching those goals.”

He says he has seen evidence of the input he and other community members provided. “Especially in the last strategic planning goal session, I definitely see that a lot of the input of mine and others helped shape the last Strategic Plan.”

“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. If people feel they’re contributing to a goal, it helps improve their satisfaction in the services they receive at the hospital.”

Hindle says this is a good opportunity for anyone interested in healthcare and medicine in general to clear up some misconceptions and mystery about both. “You get to see both sides. As a volunteer, I got to hear from patients, about their experiences. Participating in the hospital’s strategic planning lets you hear from physicians and others involved in healthcare. And you get to meet a lot of people with diverse interests.”

Hindle is planning to participate as a community member once again as TBRHSC embarks on the development of its new Strategic Plan 2020. “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.’”

TBRHSC’s last strategic plan was created with the involvement of community members, academic leaders, internal staff, managers, physicians, and policy makers.

If you too would like to help shape a plan that will drive patient care at TBRHSC over the course of the next five years, we invite you to get in touch with us before Monday, February 16.
E-mail: lindseyl@tbh.net or call (807) 684-6010.

Your commitment would involve participation on the following dates/times:

• Saturday, March 7, 2015,
  from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
• Tuesday, March 31, 2015,
  from 6:00 to 9:00 pm
• Annually – one half-day to provide
  input on our Strategic Plan progress.