Timmins Today article published January 5, 2017. Article in full pasted below. TimminsToday Staff NEWS RELEASE NORTH EAST LHIN ************************* The North East Local Health Integration Network (NE LHIN) has named Jennifer McLeod, Executive Director of the Timmins Family Health Team, a Healthy Change Champion. McLeod has worked in many areas of health care for more than three decades, including acute care, long-term care, public health, primary care in remote Northern communities, and most recently, with the Timmins Family Health Team. “Better health care is provided to patients when health agencies work together to deliver quality health services,” says McLeod. “Services are delivered more efficiently, with minimal duplication, and gaps in service are more easily identified and resolved.” McLeod says that more than ever, it’s important for primary care and home and community care to work together closely so that people get the streamlined care they need right across the system, regardless of where they live. “Jennifer has been instrumental in many patient-focused projects in the Timmins area, including the Health Link, Timmins Palliative Resource Team, the North East Specialized Geriatric Centre Regional Systems Steering Committee, and more. She is renowned for her collaborative approach,” says Louise Paquette, CEO, NE LHIN. “Jennifer’s leadership is exactly what the system needs as we continue to find ways to work together better so Northerners get a positive health care experience as close to where they live as possible.” McLeod’s family moved to Moosonee from Toronto when she was in her teens. She lived there for the next 20 years where she raised her family. Although she moved south to Timmins in 1994, she maintains close ties to family in Moose Factory. McLeod says Timmins has a very collaborative health care team that includes most of the area’s primary care providers and many specialists. She says together they have been able to achieve significant changes in their delivery of health care. “As a Healthy Change Champion, I simply help to guide this process ensuring that we are moving forward. This is an interesting and rewarding role in Timmins as our accomplishments reflect the accumulation of the efforts and commitment of many,” McLeod added. FACTS:
- Health Links are a model of care across the province that started in 2012 in which several providers in a community – including primary care, hospital, community care – work together to coordinate care plans at the patient level. Health Links are accountable to LHINs. The Timmins Health Link is one of two early adopters in the NE LHIN region and has developed care coordination plans for more than 60 patients with multiple, complex conditions.
- Health Links locations now include Timmins, Temiskaming, Nipissing-East Parry Sound, North Cochrane, Sault Ste. Marie, and Sudbury.
- The Timmins Family Health Team provides primary care to approximately 25,000 patients in Timmins across six clinical sites with 31 physicians, five nurse practitioners, and approximately 35 staff.
- The NE LHIN Healthy Change Champion recognizes people or organizations transforming the health care system so that it becomes more patient/client-focused, integrated, and easier to access. Any Northerner can suggest a Healthy Change Champion. Please tell us in one or two paragraphs why you believe the person or organization deserves this recognition. Send your nomination to engagingwithyou@lhins.on.ca or 555 Oak Street East, Third Floor, North Bay, ON, P1B 8E3.