It is an exciting year ahead at VHA as we aim to fully realize the plans we set out in VHA’s Strategic Plan 2020-2025: Care to Transform and engage broadly to set a new plan to guide us into the future.

Alongside strategic planning, we have several key priorities this year in support of our mission of creating possibilities for more independence, championing the needs of clients and families and delivering high quality, integrated care. As ever, we aim to develop evidence-based solutions for clients, families and providers. VHA is committed to helping increase the availability of contemporary homecare data through research and innovation at a time when this has never been more important and we are proud to have contributed the “Most Read Article for 2023” to Longwoods Healthcare Policy Journal that offers the economic evidence that an investment in home care personal support worker wages will retain staff, reduce the number of clients waiting for long term care beds and result in cost savings.

Ontario continues its health system transformation agenda toward a more integrated model. We look forward to working collaboratively with partners to expand existing integrated care initiatives, including those with Michael Garron Hospital, North York General Hospital, University Health Network and The Hospital for Sick Children and to contributing to innovative programs to help patients transition home from hospital earlier and receive more of their care in their homes and communities where they most want to be.

Digital tools that enhance our ability to securely share information with clients and families and with integrated care partners are important enablers of our partnership work and our commitment to client and family-centred care. One such tool is the myVHA client portal, which is available for all clients receiving personal support and shift and clinic-based nursing care. We look forward to building on its success in the coming months, expanding its features and its reach to more clients, families and caregivers.

At VHA, we strive to have team members in every role and at every level feel empowered everyday so they can lead with purpose and build bonds that matter. This year we will launch an enterprise resource planning platform to improve staff and service provider experience and efficiency and expand our health human resources capacity.

VHA takes great pride in providing high-quality care and service. In 2024 we will continue to advance leading practices in clinical care while aiming to retain our Exemplary Standing with Accreditation Canada, which we have held for more than a decade.

We have ambitious plans for 2024, VHA’s 99^th year. I am proud and excited to work alongside VHA’s highly skilled and compassionate clinical and administrative team members and our phenomenal leadership team to achieve our goals while also staying laser-focused on providing much-needed care every day to clients and families in their homes and communities.

I look forward to updating you on our progress as the year unfolds and to hearing from you as we develop our new strategic plan. For now, stay safe and keep warm. Here’s hoping for lots of sunny days ahead.