Redesigning health care: A new Master Plan for LHSC

In early 2022, London Health Sciences Centre embarked on the beginning of a visionary and ambitious journey to reimagine, redesign and redevelop the future of health care. Since then, we have engaged nearly 3,000 people from across the communities we serve, 36 partner organizations in health care, research, education, municipal leadership and community support, and more than 1,000 members of Team LHSC. As part of our extensive research, we are considering projected growth of the community, changes to our economy, emerging technologies, national health care trends, and our impact on the environment.

This research and feedback have already been invaluable to the development of LHSC’s Master Plan – our blueprint for how we deliver health care over the next 10, 20 and 30 years. It’s the first step in a process to redesign how we deliver care within and outside of our walls, including the physical structure of our buildings.

Our Master Plan was submitted to the Ministry of Health, ahead of deadline, this past summer, and we are continuing to work with the Ministry on our submission. If our plan is approved, we will enter a new, more detailed phase of planning the future design of our facilities – from identifying where specific care programs will be located to the design of outdoor green spaces.

The Eight Principles of Master Planning

Eight Master Planning Principles

During the planning process, we are following these eight key principles:

Patients

Create exemplary patient and family care experiences

• Apply a patient-centered lens to providing innovative care 
• Advance safe and effective care 

Our People

Cultivate an environment that enables staff and physicians to achieve purpose through meaningful work

• Invite and retain the workforce of  the future to drive care forward 
• Promote joy and wellness across Team LHSC 

Our Mandate 

Fulfill our unique role in health system leadership

• Balance our community hospital and specialized centre responsibilities 
• Reinforce the Children’s Hospital unique identity 
• Contribute to evaluating effectiveness and sustainability of the regional, provincial and national health ecosystem 
• Inform health policy research and best practice

Equity 

Embed the principles of equity, accessibility and inclusion in all our work 

• Remove access barriers for marginalized populations 
• Create a welcoming and culturally safe environment for care and work 

Innovation 

Drive innovation in service delivery, population health and digital care 

• Contribute to an integrated health care system 
• Advance population health and societal wellness 
• Reduce wait times through optimized efficiency 

Teaching & Research 

Weave research and teaching through every aspect of care 

• Build research capabilities and improve access to clinical trials 
• Establish leading-edge training opportunities for tomorrow’s health care providers 

Partnerships 

Build strong partnerships within the communities we serve 

• Recognize our role as a pillar in the community 
• Collaborate with system partners and community organizations 

Planetary Health 

Promote environmental sustainability in all we do 

• Establish sustainable facilities 
• Reduce our carbon footprint 

What We Heard: Five Key Themes

Five Key Themes 

There are five key themes to what we heard during our engagement with you: 

System Integration and Communication 

• The need for a better-integrated system of care and more support for patients of all ages - from newborns to seniors
• The need to formalize and strengthen processes like transitions of care from hospital to home care, and build stronger connections and paths to collaboration with health care tables and community partners

Enhancing Accessibility and Inclusivity within the Hospital Network 

• The need to improve the experience of getting to and navigating the hospital site 
• The need to expand care options that are culturally reflective of the patient base 

Wait Times and Staffing Shortages 

• The need to develop a plan that will improve emergency department wait times and appointment times 
• The immediate need to deal with staffing challenges including shortages and burnout 

Mental Health and Reducing Stigma 

• The need to expand mental health services for both children and adults 
• The need to reduce stigma around vulnerable populations and provide a trauma-informed and harm reduction approach to care

Proactively Preparing for Future Health Needs 

• The need to further enhance services for an aging population 
• The need to redesign care so that more care is delivered outside of traditional hospitals

Next Steps

Your feedback has been invaluable to our planning. But the work does not stop here. Master Planning is a journey – one that offers a unique opportunity to build the world-class, inclusive health system that the community expects and deserves. Our commitment is steadfast as our planning and research continue with the following next steps:

1. Research and engagement: The magnitude of change required is significant, but we’re prepared to undertake it. We are continuing to conduct robust research and engagement. That includes continued engagement with you, our teams and our partners, as well as focusing heavily on innovations that have been successful nearby and around the world. 
2. Future planning: If our plan is approved, we will enter a new, more detailed phase of planning. We will require continued input and collaboration from the community, Team LHSC and our partners as we advance this work together to co-create the future of health care.

Stay connected. Stay involved. 

• Share additional feedback: Email masterplan@lhsc.on.ca with additional comments about the long-term future of LHSC.