Priority 5: Improve the value and affordability of health care services
The economic downturn has sharpened attention on how to get the best value out of limited health care dollars. Increasing value in health care does not necessarily mean spending more funding. Instead, it means making the best use of existing resources to deliver the best results possible. When we produce better health outcomes with the same resources, value to the public goes up. When we produce the same health outcomes with fewer resources, value also goes up. In this sense, value in health care can be defined as:
| Value |
= |
____________Health Outcomes____________ |
| Resources required to produce these outcomes |
How will achieving this priority transform the Toronto Central LHIN health system?
By acting on these initiatives, we will achieve the following results:
- Maintain or increase the volume of services provided within the LHIN in spite of constrained resources.
- Increase the proportion of back office (HR, finance, materials management, other administrative functions, etc.) activity that is being delivered through shared services.
- See an increased number of voluntary integrations resulting from provider-identified opportunities to increase value by shifting where or how services are delivered.
The Value and Affordability agenda is integral to a subtle but important change in the culture within the Toronto Central LHIN.
The reality in the world of publicly funded health care is that resources will always be constrained. This is why the pursuit of value has to drive every activity and decision in the LHIN. The Value and Affordability agenda challenges everyone in the LHIN to shift their thinking and recognize that providing the best care to those who need it and delivering value to the public in general can be achieved simultaneously by working more effectively as an integrated system.
By eliminating duplication and ensuring services are provided in the most affordable setting, and by leveraging existing health system resources and initiatives that are working well (such as Aging at Home initiatives), Toronto Central LHIN providers can increase value for everyone who needs services.