The latest strategic plan for Southern Health-Santé Sud has been completed. Ales Morga, Manager for Planning and Evaluation, says this is the first for the new region so it was very important to them to have input and feedback from patients and staff members alike. Morga notes more than seven hundred staff completed a survey as part of that process. She says with this new plan the board is also trying to take concrete steps to address and improve health equity across the region, adding that was one of the themes which emerged from their recent Community Health Assessment.

Morga notes some of the long range goals incorporated into the strategic plan include healthy people, healthy environment, accessible health services, and having a sustainable, accountable, and responsive health organization as well as safe, people-centered and quality health care. She adds they also have strategic directions which they're hoping to achieve over the planning period. Morga says health equity is definitely one of those directions, which also include community engagement in partnerships, transforming and improving the patient experience and achieving excellence in patient safety, as well as a skilled and engaged work force.

You can see the entire strategic plan by clicking here.