Each year, staff at Health Quality Ontario read the Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs) submitted by Ontario hospitals, primary care organizations, long-term care homes, and local health integration networks (which administer home care). We identified some stand-out examples from the 2017/18 QIPs showcasing what some organizations have done to address health equity in the populations they serve, and reached out to the people involved to find out more about their experiences.
The South Huron Hospital Association described their involvement in a Community Engagement Planning Committee and how they identified community needs to be addressed from an equity perspective.
We spoke with Heather Klopp, Director Ambulatory Services and Karen Brown, Board Member, Chair of Community Engagement Committee, to find out more about this work, one of the many initiatives that the organization is undertaking to promote health equity.
How did South Huron Hospital Association identify their populations’ needs?
The hospital association received data from the Grand Bend Area Community Health Centre (CHC) and Bluewater Family Health Team (FHT) Be Well Survey. The Be Well Survey is a minimum set of meaningful standardized questions intended for adaptable use in community-governed primary health care settings.
To ensure the results capture the multifaceted relationships of factors affecting health and well-being, the survey covers eight dimensions with a particular focus on community vitality and its concepts such as belonging, social connection, and inclusion.
In the South Huron region, the tool was used to understand community needs and assist in the development of a community-driven agenda. The themes of food insecurity, access to mental health care, and rural transportation were identified as important challenges in the region.
Does your organization have internal governance structures to support this work?
South Huron Hospital Association has the following three structures that support population health and equity:
- The Board Quality, Utilization and Risk Committee is responsible for assisting the South Huron Hospital Association Board in the performance of the Board’s governance role for the quality of patient care, and performs the functions of the Quality Committee under the Excellent Care for All Act, 2010.
- The Executive, Governance and Planning Committee ensures the development, ongoing monitoring and implementation of the hospital’s strategic plan and sets and reviews annual priorities for the hospital providing regular progress reports.
- The Community Engagement Committee promotes effective community outreach initiatives and seeks to further expand into the community beyond the users of the medical services.
What did the South Huron Hospital Association do with the Be Well Survey data?
South Huron Hospital Association used the data to inform their Community Engagement Committee activities, such as their work on food insecurity. The Community Engagement Committee works with partners such as the Grand Bend Community Health Centre, high schools, “Choices for Change”, the Ontario Provincial Police, a social worker, and a Patient and Family Advisory Council representative.
This committee has the ability to put together topic-specific tables with ad hoc members to address urgent community needs, such as the opioid crisis. This committee moves away from applying a one-size-fits all approach, and supports a collaborative effort among partners that have an understanding of the community.
In fact, the hospital is able to assist these partners in their shared goals to address these needs by providing space within their hospital-owned and operated primary care clinic across from the hospital. Choices for Change attends twice per week, Dr. Gangdev (psychiatrist) attends once per month, and South West LHIN home and community care attends weekly, as does the Huron County Smoking Cessation program. Both the Huron-Perth Centre and the Crisis Response Team are aware that they can arrange to use space to meet patients and families at this location or by Ontario Telemedicine Service as needed for mental health assessment, consultation or treatment.
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Quorum’s Indicators & Change Ideas page. Find more information about QIP indicators and related change ideas.