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St. Catharines, ON – The Niagara Ontario Health Team-Équipe Santé Ontario (NOHT-ÉSON) proudly announces the launch of its comprehensive 2024-2027 strategic plan. Developed through an extensive and collaborative process that amplifies the diverse voices within the community, the plan is a testament to the commitment of the network and its partners to ensuring that every resident of Niagara has access to high-quality health and social care services.

A broad spectrum of community groups were engaged during the development process, including health and social care partners and individuals with lived experiences. Their invaluable insights have shaped the NOHT-ÉSON’s priorities for the next three years, allowing the organization to create a roadmap that reflects the needs of Niagara’s residents.

Central to our planning process was the involvement of patient/client and family/caregiver advisors, whose contributions have been instrumental in prioritizing the needs of those directly impacted by the health and social care system. This collaborative effort helped identify our strengths, challenges, and opportunities, resulting in a strategy grounded in evidence and community-driven insights.

“Our strategic plan sets a clear direction for enhancing care in Niagara,” said Sabrina Piluso, Executive Director of the NOHT-ÉSON. “We are committed to fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and accountability among our partners and to addressing disparities in access to high-quality care.”

The strategic plan is structured around six key pillars:

• Indigenous Health: Ensure that health and social care services reflect Indigenous values and prioritize Indigenous voices in decision-making, and integrate Indigenous perspectives in all levels of planning.
• System Integration: Build an integrated system that provides seamless access to care, services, and supports, improving transitions and service navigation for patients.
• Safety and Inclusivity: Ensure that our health and social care system embraces and respects everyone in our community, providing safe and inclusive care regardless of race, ethnicity, or other factors.
• Primary Care: Ensure timely and equitable access to primary health care services for all Niagara residents, fostering partnerships with family doctors and primary care teams.
• Workforce: Develop a strong, healthy, and diverse workforce to meet community needs, focusing on recruitment, retention, and provider satisfaction.
• Trust and Accountability: Foster a culture of trust, transparency, and accountability among partners through improved communication and performance monitoring.

The work of the NOHT-ÉSON and its partners is underway with key initiatives already in progress:

• The NOHT-ÉSON is working diligently to ensure that every resident has timely access to primary care teams, establishing a strong foundation for ongoing health support.
• Let’s Go Home (LEGHO) is helping seniors transition from the emergency department to their homes by offering essential community supports such as meal services, transportation, homemaking, and respite.
• To better understand the needs and experiences of our health care workforce, the NOHT-ÉSON and its Health Human Resources Working Group has been conducting surveys to inform recruitment and retention strategies.

As the NOHT-ÉSON and its partners move forward, we will continue to provide updates on our progress toward achieving our goals and objectives through a webpage dedicated to the strategic plan. Together, we can build a healthier future for everyone in Niagara.