MASS LBP's first fully-bilingual Citizens' Advisory Panel (CAP) concluded in Alexandria, Ontario this March. Citizens provided advice for the Eastern Counties Clinical Hospital Services Distribution Plan.

Arriving from communities throughout the Eastern Counties, including Hawkesbury, Rockland, Finch, Glen Robertson and Cornwall, members of the Champlain LHIN CAP gathered in Alexandria for three Saturdays in February and March. Their task was to learn about the region's five hospitals and consider possible models for redistributing services among them.

Panelists heard from a number of health experts, including the CEO of the Champlain LHIN, an epidemiologist, and senior administrators from each of the five hospitals. They spent a full day learning about the progress made by collaborative working groups in four service areas: Surgical, Emergency, Medicine, and Mental Health and Addictions. Using scenario-based activities, Panelists worked together to refine their recommendations on service redistribution.

Input and advice from the Champlain LHIN CAP will inform the Eastern Counties Clinical Hospital Services Distribution Plan.