MANITOULIN—Healthcare in Ontario is currently in an extraordinary state of multi-sector transformation. In the North, small rural hospitals like Manitoulin Health Centre (MHC) are facing unprecedented challenges as they navigate an evolving healthcare landscape post-pandemic. The growing pressures of increasing patient volumes, financial strain and widespread health human resource shortages have highlighted the need for a strategic plan that addresses both immediate and long-term healthcare priorities.
The MHC has launched its three-year, 2025-2028, strategic plan that aims to strengthen the hospital’s socially accountable approach to delivering equitable and collaborative patient-centred care, while ensuring the well-being of the local healthcare workforce. By building stronger partnerships with its local and regional health networks, MHC seeks to contribute to a more resilient, sustainable and patient-centred healthcare system for the community.
“Typically, in the past we have carried out five-year strategic plans,” said Paula Fields, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of MHC, last week. “However, with so much uncertainty in health care locally and provincially, we felt that we needed to focus and prioritize this next three-year period.”
Accompanying their new three-year plan, MHC has redefined and refreshed their vision and mission statements to better align with the new strategic directions, while the existing values of ‘Respect, Passion and Truth’ carry forward. A refreshed vision as, “A leader in rural healthcare excellence,” and a mission reflection of “Providing collaborative, patient and family centred care that contributes to the health of all that come to us in need,” will help guide MHC through this next period of health care transformation.
This new plan was designed to align with the quality framework community referenced as the ‘quintuple aim,’ focusing on patient experience, population health, provider experience, improving value and health equity. This is a framework that is also used by Ontario Health Teams across the province. MHC is a contributing member of the Equip Sante Sudbury, Espanola, Manitoulin, Elliot Lake Ontario Health Team (SEMEL OHT).
Key priorities were highlighted in the MHC strategic plan as efforts related to the need for recruitment and retention initiatives of professional staff and health human resources, advancing their work on cultural safety through partnership and advocating for increased access to local care and specialist services close to home and through expanded partnership.
Not surprising in the report is that with the advancement of MHC digital landscapes, community consultations indicated patients are seeking increased access to digital innovations for feedback and engagement and stronger output of communications from their local hospital. With health care pressures across the Island, participants are seeking more information on the status of local health care recruitment, health service updates, and in general, a way to stay tuned into happenings at their local hospital.
Additionally, participants indicated the need for local service enhancements to support the health of local seniors and advancement of senior friendly care initiatives, as well as improved supports for mental health and substance use on Manitoulin. These populations were indicated to be priority populations for service planning, not only for MHC, but also the local SEMEL OHT, highlighting common themes in service planning for the region.
Dennis McGregor, chair of the MHC board of directors stated at the recent launch, “Thank you to the strategic planning committee, the senior team, employees and medical providers who contributed to feedback. Your work and contributions are helping to envision and strengthen the future of health care here on Manitoulin Island.”
MHC acknowledged, “Paquette Management and Consulting for the facilitation of this work, and to also thank all those who took the time to participate in the engagement sessions and stakeholder consultations that occurred over a six-month period in 2024. The feedback and commitment to working alongside MHC for health care improvement is truly valued and is a testament to the commitment in partnership seen across Manitoulin.”
A full copy of the MHC 2025-2028 strategic plan can be found at MHC.on.ca.
