Failing to plan is planning to fail

Benjamin Franklin once wrote that failing to have a plan is planning for failure. These wise words echo as true today as they did over 200 years ago.

Healthcare in Ontario is in the process of transformational change. The introduction of Local Health Integration Networks (LHIN’s) will mean a more regional integrated approach to health services. As a result of these changes some important themes are developing that will affect how every department within the hospital, including Environmental Services, will operate.

The first theme is a move by government to use a more targeted budget format. In the past government has used global funding to fund hospital operations. Government has now set up specific priorities for health spending, including a wait list strategy to address health procedures high on the list of public priorities.

Hospitals that can demonstrate cost efficiency and innovation in a specific procedure will receive funding for that specific program. This program by program funding will replace the global funding of the past.

The second important theme emerging is accountability and performance management. Hospitals are now required to sign accountability agreements with government outlining levels of service and specific performance for allocated funding. This new level of accountability and performance management will have an affect on the housekeeping department and how it will provide service.

One method that is gaining prominence is to develop a more private sector approach to providing Housekeeping Services. This includes developing a service specification for each program in the hospital.

The detailed specification outlines exactly the service that will be provided for the allocated dollars. It includes very specific quality and performance indicators. This should be developed in conjunction with your clinical partners or program Directors. Take this opportunity to educate your client on what is and what is not possible for the allocated dollars.

The new level of accountability will mean that the Housekeeping Manager will need to be more innovative. Finding new and cost effective approaches to provide ever-increasing demand for services with less financial resources. One method would be to research best practices and benchmark your service against other hospitals within your LHIN or other like organizations to ensure your costs are competitive.

Ontario is the last province in Canada to regionalize health services and take the opportunity to network with colleagues from other provinces as well as attend national conferences to learn about other experiences. The Canadian Association of Environmental Management (CAEM) has an annual education conference and it is an excellent forum to meet and network with other housekeeping managers from across Canada.

The transformation and regionalization of healthcare in Ontario will take several years to complete. It will take even longer to evaluate if the exercise has resulted in an improved system for the patient. Regionalization of health services is here to stay, and is moving down the tracks at an incredible speed.

Housekeeping managers that are not planning on how they fit into the new regional system and the new reality, will wish they had listened to the wise words of Benjamin Franklin.