HHS
| HNHB LHIN Announces Next Steps in Regional Laboratory Integration Initiative |
| We are pleased to share with you the next steps in the Regional Laboratory Network Planning for the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network. Hamilton Health Sciences has partnered with the following organizations to further develop a plan to enhance quality, access and efficiency of laboratory services in this region. Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital Niagara Health System St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton West Lincoln Memorial Hospital These organizations will form a LHIN Laboratory Council (LLC) that will work to create a formal governance structure for the operations of the laboratories within this network. Mr. Eric Vandewall, President and CEO of the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital has agreed to be the Council’s inaugural Chair as we move forward in the next stages of our strategy development. Working with the LHIN Laboratory Council and in collaboration with the Laboratory Medical Directors, will be Mr. David Langstaff as Executive Director of the LHIN Laboratory Network responsible for the administration of laboratory services offered at each hospital laboratory in the Network. Clinical coherence at all hospital sites will be maintained throughout the network. As we move towards standardization and consolidation of processes within laboratory medicine we will enhance our operational integration and achieve greater efficiencies. This will allow us to continue to deliver solutions to address funding, recruitment and utilization pressures in laboratory medicine while improving access to new equipment and technologies. The creation of the LHIN Laboratory Council signifies the next phase of planning and does not represent any operational movement of testing or employee impact. Moving forward, there will be a thorough and transparent process and plans will be developed in collaboration with clinical partners and laboratory staff. Future plans will be shared with the HNHB LHIN and member organizations as they develop and we appreciate your support of this strategically important initiative. Rebecca Repa President, St. Peter's Hospital & Integrated Vice President Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory Medicine |