The First Full Year of LHINs in Ontario

April 1, 2008 marked the completion of the first full year of LHIN authority in Ontario’s health care system. 

In 2006, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care divided the province into 14 regions or Local Health Integration Networks (more succinctly known as LHINs) because, it was thought, people living locally were better able to plan, fund and integrate health services in their own communities than people in Toronto. By April 1, 2007, LHINs took on full responsibility for health services in their communities. 

What does this mean? The main roles of the LHINs are to plan, fund and integrate health care services locally. For example, to develop the LHIN-specific Integrated Health Service Plans, each LHIN consulted the people in their communities – the general public, patients, advocates, health services – everyone who had something to say. The plan was tailored to local needs and priorities and met provincial strategic directions. 

LHINs fund the health service providers and can put local health dollars where they are most needed, based on community priorities. LHINs also work with communities to help integrate health services so care is better coordinated and more efficient.

LHINs are still relatively young organizations, but have done a tremendous amount of work over the past year. You can see for yourself by viewing a specific LHIN website (find them here).

If you need help finding your LHIN, enter your postal code at right and it will locate your LHIN for you.