As the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance moves forward with its new governance structure, the organization is focusing on three areas when it comes to patients.

CEO Lori Marshall speaking to area residents at a CKHA Community Open House.

CEO Lori Marshall says the first is rural health care.

“Recognizing that 60% of our population lives in rural areas around Chatham and rural Kent,” Marshall explains. “we need to be thinking about both how do we use our two sites differently, and how do we work with other partners – our family health teams or community health centres – and also delivering care right in the home and working with the LHIN’s home and community care.”

The Health Alliance will also be focusing on patient & family-centred care, which Marshall calls a renewed commitment.

“We’re just taking it to a new level, we’re wanting to involve patients and family members in everything we do as an organization.”

The hospital recently recruited 14 new patient advisors to help keep families in the loop.

The CKHA will also be focusing on being a more comprehensive community hospital to provide services patients typically have to leave Chatham-Kent to receive.

You can read more on the Health Alliance’s Strategic Plan on askckha.ca.