The Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (WWLHIN) is committed to working with its health care and community partners so Cambridge and area residents enjoy a healthy community both today and in the future. That’s why the WWLHIN has initiated an Operational Review process with Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH).
The Operational Review Team is working with Cambridge Memorial Hospital’s Board of Governors and administration to provide additional assistance to sustain their success in maintaining high quality care, within its approved and planned funding allocations. Through this collaborative approach, the hospital will be able to develop a plan to support quality patient care, while sustaining the hospital through fiscal challenges.
Operational reviews are normal practice within health care as organizations seek new, creative solutions to challenging issues.
It is important that facts are available to Cambridge and area residents so you can be informed about the process and its outcomes.
- The Operational Review Final Report will not be made public.
- Cambridge Memorial Hospital will be closed because of this review
- WWLHIN funding decisions are made without consultation, in the absence of data, or input from clinical experts.
- The allocation of a MRI and Bariatric Surgery at Guelph General Hospital was made by the WWLHIN without the input of health care experts
- The WWLHIN allocated $1.17 million in growth funding without using the identified criteria.
- The WWLHIN decided which long-term care beds were to be allocated to Guelph.
- Cambridge Memorial Hospital will receive an additional $12 million in operating funds once its hospital building project is completed.
- The WWLHIN has ordered the hospital to reduce the level of care and cut beds as part of its directions to achieve a balanced budget.
- It has been proven that CMH is underfunded.
- CMH is the only hospital in the WWLHIN area that has to deal with an operating budget deficit and sign an accountability agreement requiring it to achieve a balanced budget position.
Myth – The Operational Review Final Report will not be made public.
Truth – The WWLHIN has publicly stated since the Operational Review was announced that the final report will be made public. This is stated in news releases and the Revised Terms of Reference for the Operational Review, March 16, 2009, IV. Role of the Review Team # 5.
Truth – The WWLHIN has publicly stated since the Operational Review was announced that the final report will be made public. This is stated in news releases and the Revised Terms of Reference for the Operational Review, March 16, 2009, IV. Role of the Review Team # 5.
Myth – Cambridge Memorial Hospital will be closed because of this review.
Truth – Cambridge Memorial Hospital is an essential partner in our local health care system. It will remain open and continue to provide high quality care for Cambridge and area residents.
Truth – Cambridge Memorial Hospital is an essential partner in our local health care system. It will remain open and continue to provide high quality care for Cambridge and area residents.
Myth – WWLHIN funding decisions are made without consultation, in the absence of data, or input from clinical experts.
Truth – The WWLHIN regularly consults with its health care partners to seek input on important decisions. This has been demonstrated on a number of occasions including the current discussions around the delivery of health care programs and services for the WWLHIN area.
Truth – The WWLHIN regularly consults with its health care partners to seek input on important decisions. This has been demonstrated on a number of occasions including the current discussions around the delivery of health care programs and services for the WWLHIN area.
Myth – The allocation of a MRI and Bariatric Surgery at Guelph General Hospital was made by the WWLHIN without the input of health care experts
Truth – An expert panel of health care professionals provided input to the Provincial Government and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care when it was making the decision to locate these services at Guelph General Hospital.
These additional services support all the residents in the Waterloo Wellington area, including those living in Cambridge and the surrounding area.
Truth – An expert panel of health care professionals provided input to the Provincial Government and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care when it was making the decision to locate these services at Guelph General Hospital.
These additional services support all the residents in the Waterloo Wellington area, including those living in Cambridge and the surrounding area.
Myth – The WWLHIN allocated $1.17 million in growth funding without using the identified criteria.
Truth – The WWLHIN used the criteria identified by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and based its decision on transformational initiatives, that:
Truth – The WWLHIN used the criteria identified by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and based its decision on transformational initiatives, that:
- Improve access to services,
- Create a sustainable health system, and
- Deliver system-wide programs for all residents in the WWLHIN area.
- $400,000 to Guelph General Hospital to support the vascular program,
- $400,000 to St. Mary’s General Hospital, Kitchener, to support the cardiac care program, and
- $379,000 to St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Guelph, to support complex continuing care and rehab program.
Myth – The WWLHIN decided which long-term care beds were to be allocated to Guelph.
Truth – On October 27, 2006, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announced 288 long-term care beds for Guelph to address long-term care and community care pressures. Through a request for proposal process completed in 2007, 96 beds were awarded to St. Joseph's Health Centre, Guelph and 192 to Extendicare.
In December 2008, Extendicare (Canada Inc.) informed the government that it would not be pursuing the development of a 192-bed long-term care home it had been awarded in 2007.
On May 1, 2009, the government announced that it had re-allocated the returned 192 beds as follows: 96 beds to Oakwood Retirement Communities to meet the growing need for beds in Guelph and the remaining 96 beds were awarded to peopleCare in Cambridge.
While the beds will be located in Guelph and Cambridge, they are available to residents across the WWLHIN area and will help relieve pressures in all local hospitals when alternate level of care (ALC) patients are located to more appropriate settings to receive the care they need and deserve.
Truth – On October 27, 2006, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announced 288 long-term care beds for Guelph to address long-term care and community care pressures. Through a request for proposal process completed in 2007, 96 beds were awarded to St. Joseph's Health Centre, Guelph and 192 to Extendicare.
In December 2008, Extendicare (Canada Inc.) informed the government that it would not be pursuing the development of a 192-bed long-term care home it had been awarded in 2007.
On May 1, 2009, the government announced that it had re-allocated the returned 192 beds as follows: 96 beds to Oakwood Retirement Communities to meet the growing need for beds in Guelph and the remaining 96 beds were awarded to peopleCare in Cambridge.
While the beds will be located in Guelph and Cambridge, they are available to residents across the WWLHIN area and will help relieve pressures in all local hospitals when alternate level of care (ALC) patients are located to more appropriate settings to receive the care they need and deserve.
Myth – Cambridge Memorial Hospital will receive an additional $12 million in operating funds once its hospital building project is completed.
Truth – While hospitals do receive additional dollars if new programs or services are added as part of hospital building projects, there has been no final determination the additional operating dollars CMH will receive upon the completion of its building project.
Truth – While hospitals do receive additional dollars if new programs or services are added as part of hospital building projects, there has been no final determination the additional operating dollars CMH will receive upon the completion of its building project.
Myth – The WWLHIN has ordered the hospital to reduce the level of care and cut beds as part of its directions to achieve a balanced budget.
Truth – The WWLHIN has not given any directives to the hospital on service or bed cuts. The Operational Review will provide recommendations to the hospital on how it can continue to provide high quality, safe patient care while within its financial allocation. It is the responsibility of the hospital to develop an implementation plan to achieve a balanced budget position.
Truth – The WWLHIN has not given any directives to the hospital on service or bed cuts. The Operational Review will provide recommendations to the hospital on how it can continue to provide high quality, safe patient care while within its financial allocation. It is the responsibility of the hospital to develop an implementation plan to achieve a balanced budget position.
Myth – It has been proven that CMH is underfunded.
Truth – The Growing Communities Healthcare Alliance statements that CMH is underfunded is not based on a defined Health-Based Allocation Model (HBAM). This methodology is still under development to support equitable allocations for health care across the province.
HBAM is a population, health-based allocation model and management tool, when fully developed, can be used to support the strategic alignment of health care funding with the health care needs of communities. The methodology will support the allocation of funds according to an evidence-based formula that reflects the community's requirements for health care programs and services.
To date, a model has yet to be developed that equitably addresses all service providers and Ontario communities. Without this model being defined, it cannot be clearly stated that health care funding to the WWLHIN area will increase or decrease.
Truth – The Growing Communities Healthcare Alliance statements that CMH is underfunded is not based on a defined Health-Based Allocation Model (HBAM). This methodology is still under development to support equitable allocations for health care across the province.
HBAM is a population, health-based allocation model and management tool, when fully developed, can be used to support the strategic alignment of health care funding with the health care needs of communities. The methodology will support the allocation of funds according to an evidence-based formula that reflects the community's requirements for health care programs and services.
To date, a model has yet to be developed that equitably addresses all service providers and Ontario communities. Without this model being defined, it cannot be clearly stated that health care funding to the WWLHIN area will increase or decrease.
Myth – CMH is the only hospital in the WWLHIN area that has to deal with an operating budget deficit and sign an accountability agreement requiring it to achieve a balanced budget position.
Truth – All eight hospitals in the WWLHIN area have identified operating budget deficits. To date, seven of the hospitals have developed plans to achieve balanced positions by the end of the current fiscal year, March 31, 2010. All eight hospitals have signed accountability agreements with the WWLHIN indicating that they will achieve a balanced budget by March 31, 2010, including Cambridge Memorial Hospital.
Truth – All eight hospitals in the WWLHIN area have identified operating budget deficits. To date, seven of the hospitals have developed plans to achieve balanced positions by the end of the current fiscal year, March 31, 2010. All eight hospitals have signed accountability agreements with the WWLHIN indicating that they will achieve a balanced budget by March 31, 2010, including Cambridge Memorial Hospital.