May to September has had the Planning Team in discussions with the Ministry of Health surrounding details of the Stage One proposal. These discussions have been tremendously positive and approval for the next stage is anticipated in the very near future, with Stage Two beginning this fall. While capital projects such as this are funded through the Ministry, operating funding for public hospitals in Ontario is received through Ontario Health North (formerly the LHIN – Local Health Integrated Network). In order for the Ministry to support this project, Ontario Health North would first need to review the Stage One proposal and indicate support for the programs and services proposed. We are extremely pleased to share that a letter of support for the project was recently received from this body.

The Planning Team was advised by the Province to keep details of the proposal, including recommended location confidential until discussions on Stage One have been completed. In the upcoming next stage, a second round of engagement will launch and the team of Community Project Planners (Kathy Kishiqueb, Kenora Chiefs Advisory and Charlene Kissick, Lake of the Woods District Hospital) will begin sharing greater details of the proposal publicly as the community’s support will be critical in moving forward. Proposed is a new hospital designed to meet modern hospital standards, both in service delivery, staff, and patient/family needs, as well as space requirements to achieve these standards. Bed requirements for most programs remain the same but there are an increased number of beds proposed for Mental Health & Addictions to address service gaps experienced in the region. Key service delivery model themes identified in the proposal include accessibility, functionality, efficiency, blending of Western Medicine and Traditional Healing on a new campus, and building strong partnerships for service coordination with other providers across the continuum of care.

The Steering Committee would like to acknowledge the contributions and leadership of Chief Marilyn Sinclair over the last two years, who participated on the Steering Committee as Vice Chair while serving as chief of her community. We now welcome Chief Vernon Copenace to the Vice-Chair position as he assumes his role as chief of Washagamis Bay.

The partnership between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities is invaluable as this project moves forward, not only towards building a new hospital but also in building relationships, trust and moving reconciliation forward in our territory.

For more information on the redevelopment of Lake of the Woods District Hospital / All Nations Hospital Project, visit https://anh.lwdh.on.ca

Aakozii-agamig gadaziigamowad gebi niibin odonokiidanawaa. Bizhig enagonigewin ongizhiidonaawaa. Bizindawaawag Anishinaabeg, ga-onogiiwad, ga-wiidanogiimaawad geye.

Ganiiganiiziwad ominwendanaawaa izhiinagok owe enagonigewad, gadaziigamowad aakozi-agamig. Miigo ani-dagwaagiin magi-kiigaadeg niizho enagonigewin.

Gadaziigomowad aakozi-agamig dawiindamagewag azhinagok gakinagego.

Kathy Kishiqueb (KCA), Charlene Kissick (LWDH) wiinaawaa danwiindamagewag.

Anishinaabe nadawe’igewin imaa geye dagoba’ige.

Miigwech inigaaso ogimakaan, Marilyn Sinclair giwiisooka’ige nizho baboon. Miigwech inigaaso ogimakaan, Vernon Copenace wiidam imaa namadabi.

Miigo owe izhi-kiinwaabagegadeg gakina-awiiya gi-mino-wiijiindewad ga-aanokiidamowad aakozi-agamig midaash geshi minosig gakinagego.

To keep informed on the project, please follow the Lake of the Woods District Hospital on Facebook and visit the All Nations Hospital Project website to subscribe to receive the most up-to-date information – https://anh.lwdh.on.ca

The All Nations Hospital Project is a community project, focused not only on creating an inclusive, efficient facility staffed by compassionate and caring individuals but also on building relationships to strengthen our community. Mamoo’kandaa oshi aakoziiwigamig. Working together for our new hospital.

More Info

Charlene Kissick
Community Project Planner, All Nations Hospital Project
ckissick@lwdh.on.ca
(807) 464-1941

Cheryl O’Flaherty
VP Corporate Services & CFO / Executive Project Sponsor
Lake of the Woods District Hospital
coflaherty@lwdh.on.ca
(807) 468-9861, ext: 2265

Communications

Work has begun to create a social media strategy and content sharing among all participating partners.

Digital Strategy

• Explored the feasibility, implementation timing, costing and resources needed to consolidate electronic medical records.
• Explored virtual care funding opportunities
• ANHP OHT was asked to participate on two project teams and the Digital Strategy Working Group endorsed two applicants: North York General and Hamilton Health Sciences.
• Ministry of Health has an open call until July 29 for organizations who can take existing evidence-based,provincially-endorsed clinical content (including clinical standards, protocols and guidelines) and translating it into digital tools and templates that can be embedded into frontline clinical systems in order to support improvements in care delivery.

Patient Family & Elder Advisory

• Developed recruitment plan to recruit committee members; this included: drafting application, create member matrix, establish interview questions, and approve communications plan to promote opportunity.

Mental Health & Addictions

• Established the vision of the working group for the work that will occur within the sector.
• Identified Goals and Objectives, focusing on the ideal outcomes.
• Determined Intentions for the group and how we will work together.
• Initiated conversations on defining the “problem” properly.

COVID-19 Response Group

• Vaccination rates within Northwestern Health Unit are similar to provincial rates:
  • 78.7% of those 12+ have at least 1 dose (provincially 79.7%)
  • 66.5% of those 12+ have 2 doses (provincially 66.2%
• Long Term Care Hospital numbers show high vaccination rates in residents (95%) and staff vaccinationrates are also high (94%).
• The province of Ontario has announced that restrictions in Step Three of the Roadmap will remain for at least 21 days and until 80 percent of eligible population aged 12 and over has received one dose of aCOVID-19 vaccine and 75% have received their second, with no public health unit having less than 70% of their eligible population 12 and over fully vaccinated.
• Mass immunization clinics are wrapping up with the last clinic expected on August 5. There are two clinic dates on July 28 and 29. Clinics are then available through the Northwestern Health Unit office clinics, primary care clinics and partner clinics.
  • For Kenora the office clinics start on August 10 and are generally on Tuesdays every week. Additional clinics may be added if there is demand.
• Vaccine supply is readily available.
• Recent response for forest fire evacuees hosted in Kenora did allow an opportunity for vaccination of evacuees if there was interest; however, as the evacuees have returned home, this did not occur.