The head of Grey Bruce Health Services says a new provincial funding formula means rural hospitals will have to fight extra hard to secure their future.
President and CEO Lance Thurston says the formula is focused on efficiency and designated volumes of care, which favour urban facilities.
He says that could push Grey Bruce Health Services into a deficit position this year, they won't just start cutting and slashing.
"We have the financial strength and the time, I think, to take a measured look at that and develop a longer term plan for how we want to retool the organization to meet the needs of the new funding formula," he says.
Thurston says their new strategic plan will help them ensure the organization and its services remain strong, relevant and responsive to changing needs in the community.
He says the organization must anticipate and embrace change, find innovative and collaborative ways to use resources, with ever higher patient outcome expectations.
"We have to work smarter, we have to be more efficient, and having a plan like this really helps focus our efforts, sets priorities and really gets the entire organization kinda rowing in the same direction," he says.
The plan has four new directions to help Grey Bruce Health Services meet challenges, achieve best outcomes, create positive experiences and secure their future.
The organization serves over 165,000 residents along with thousands more seasonal residents, and over 2-million tourists.
The area also has the highest percentage of residents over age 65 in the province, with half living in rural areas.
The six hospitals, and a regional addictions services centre are supported by 250 physicians, 1,600 employees, and a 1,000 volunteers.
"We are one of the largest employers in the region," says Thurston. "We have an economic spin off of about a half a billion dollars a year, and that's an important contribution to jobs, and to money flow across the region, so we want to keep that strong."
The hospital sites in the organization are in Wiarton, Lion's Head, Meaford, Markdale, Owen Sound, and Southampton.
The new vision is Exceptional Care, Strong Partnerships and Healthy Communities.
