Partnerships for Service Improvement (PSI)

Project Selection and Launch Announcement

Earlier this year, the Toronto Central LHIN launched Partnerships for Service Improvement (PSI), an initiative to promote a more efficient and effective health care system by reducing costs and duplication. PSI supports LHIN-funded health service providers - Community Care Access Centres, Community Support Services agencies, mental health and addictions agencies, hospitals, long-term care homes and Community Health Centres -to partner on initiatives to integrate back office (i.e., human resources, information technology, and legal services) and clinical support (i.e., pharmacy) services.

The LHIN is providing seed funding for five projects, which will have the ability to spread to a LHIN-wide scale. These projects:

• Have the potential to be expanded or replicated.
• Build on work already underway among the partnership groups.
• Leverage strong existing relationships and partnership commitment.
• Have a strong action and results orientation.
• Will be self-funding in the long-term and are being driven by partners who are willing to share responsibilities.

There is a great deal of excitement about the PSI initiative. Approximately 100 health service providers attended an information session on PSI in February 2009. 50 agencies were involved in developing 14 proposals covering all clinical support services and a range of back office functions.

Proposal Evaluation and Selection

The LHIN undertook a rigorous and independent evaluation process involving a six- member selection panel with senior representatives from various sectors including:

• Community (Trillium Foundation)
• Hospital (Ontario Hospital Association)
• Government (Ontario Buys)
• Academic (Rotman School of Management)
• Toronto Central LHIN

The selection panel used weighted criteria to evaluate the 14 proposals. The criteria were based on potential benefits of the project, identified as service improvements and reduced costs. Contribution to the health care system, complexity and risk and strength of the partnership were also considerations in choosing the success proposals.

The weighted values of the criteria are listed below:

Successful Projects

The Toronto Central LHIN is pleased to announce the following successful projects:

1. Back Office Solutions - Human Resources/Legal Services
   
   This project will facilitate and enable integration of specific human resources, occupational health, training and development programs among five participating health care organizations.
   • Benefits - Improved staff training, leadership development, more effective staff recruitment and a reduction in staff turnover.
   • Partners - Community Care East York; COTA Health; Neighbourhood Link Support Services; Solutions - East Toronto's Health Collaborative; and Toronto East General Hospital.
2. Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) eLearning in the Community
   
   This project will provide an eLearning module designed to drive consistent IPAC best practices among community workers and volunteers.
   • Benefits - Reduction in community acquired infection rates, savings in education costs, avoidance of hospital admissions, and reduced staff sick time.
   • Partners - Nisbet Lodge; Community Care East York; Neighbourhood Link Support Services; Solutions - East Toronto's Health Collaborative; Toronto East General Hospital; and George Brown College.
3. Shared Pharmacy Services
   
   This project will integrate clinical pharmacy services across acute, rehabilitation and complex continuing care hospitals.
   • Benefits - Improved drug distribution, enhanced patient safety, and improved quality of care.
   • Partners - St. Michael's Hospital; Providence Centre; Bridgepoint Health; and Toronto East General Hospital.
4. Tech Accord - IT Integration
   
   This project will integrate IT services among community mental health and addiction agencies to promote standardization, simplified vendor and contract management, and shared training.
   • Benefits - Increased efficiencies and cost savings in the purchase of hardware and software, implementation, maintenance and training.
   • Partners - Houselink Community Homes, Mainstay Housing and St. Jude Community Homes.
5. Toronto Healthcare Interpretation Services
   
   This project will create a model for sharing translation and interpretation services among seven health care providers by using a technology solution and pooling interpreter staff.
   • Benefits - Significant contribution to health equity, avoidance of one-time costs of setting up separate dispatch systems and pools of interpretation staff, and annual cost savings from recruiting and retaining interpretation staff.
   • Partners - University Health Network; St. Joseph's Health Centre; Toronto Rehabilitation Institute; Women's College Hospital; Hospital for Sick Children; St. Michael's Hospital; and Access Alliance.

On June 23, 2009, the LHIN hosted an inaugural meeting with leaders from the five successful project teams. There is a tremendous potential for synergies among these projects and for these initiatives to lead to a much broader impact on the health care system over time.

For the remainder of 2009/10, the Toronto Central LHIN will continue to work with the five projects to monitor their progress and evaluate options for expansion to other health service providers.

The LHIN will continue evaluate and identify other opportunities for improving the efficiency and performance of back office and clinical support areas in Toronto Central.

Please visit the web site again for updates on PSI initiatives.

Please read more:

• Introductory Memo from Matt Anderson, CEO, Toronto Central LHIN
• PSI Demonstration Project Application Form (Microsoft Word Format)
• Process Summary and PSI FAQs