July 06, 2005
The Assiniboine Regional Health Authority (ARHA) has submitted its report on strengthening health services within its region and the report has been received by the provincial government, Health Minister Tim Sale announced today.
The report, titled From Challenges to Opportunities: A Quality Framework for Future Health Service Planning, is the product of a year-long review of the health system within the ARHA. The report recommends that specific quality criteria be adopted as a tool to make decisions and set priorities concerning the delivery of health services within the Assiniboine region.
An April 2004 report by the Office of Rural and Northern Health (ORNH) recommended the ARHA undertake this review to assist the ARHA in finding ways to strengthen health services by providing stable and sustainable services throughout the region.
"I want to thank the staff, the board and the people in the Assiniboine region for the time, commitment and hard work they contributed towards the completion of this review," said Sale. "Health services have changed significantly in the last 50 years, presenting new challenges in the delivery of health care throughout rural Manitoba. Despite these challenges, the ARHA has worked to find opportunities to improve and strengthen health care across its region."
"The Assiniboine RHA board of directors is excited about the release of this report," said Bill Bryant, chair of the ARHA board of directors. "This report is the result of extensive consultation with our stakeholders over the past year and it reflects the comments and concerns our stakeholders have shared with us. The ARHA remains committed to working with communities as we plan for health services for the future."
"The ARHA has demonstrated that an open approach and open minds can provide alternatives to closed hospitals. I look forward to working with the ARHA and other health authorities to make sure we continue to deliver better care sooner and closer to home for rural Manitobans," said Sale.
Copies of the report are available at http://www.assiniboine-rha.ca.
- 30 -
RETURN