After three intensive weekends, the Citizens' Reference Panel developed a set of recommendations that will help guide the South East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) develop its three-year Integrated Health Services Plan (IHSP).

Held over three Saturdays, the process brought together citizens from across South East Ontario to learn about health care delivery, exchange perspectives and come to a consensus on recommendations for the future. Together, the Citizens' Reference Panel agreed upon fifteen interrelated recommendations:

• Provide Community Support
• Focus on Primary Care
• Increase Collaboration
• Target Patient Groups
• Encourage Personal Accountability
• Develop E-Health
• Provide Seamless Access to Care
• Patient Centred Health
• Advance Systems Accountability
• Improve Communications
• Develop a Directory of Services
• Environmental Consciousness
• Install a LHIN Ombudsman
  

These recommendations were the result of three challenging days of learning and deliberation. A specialized process was designed by MASS LBP to teach panelists about the health care system in Ontario, how it works and how the South East LHIN is planning for the future.

Throughout, a series of specially designed and facilitated activities helped panelists work collaboratively and reach consensus on their recommendations. The process also included a Citizens' Town Hall meeting held in Kingston, Ontario where the Panel members led their own discussions with over 100 members of the general public.

The Citizens' Reference Panel was convened as part of an extensive four-phase project to gather ideas from citizens and health practitioners throughout the South East region. The recommendations will be presented by the LHIN at a series of public meetings to be held in April and May 2009.