The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

“We’re still young organizations, so we’ve been ramping up, developing and hiring Central LHIN stafi has nearly doubled in fouryears from 16 to 31. Most of those costs can be attributed to the hiring of more staff, chief executive officer Kim Baker said. Salaries alone rose to just under $3 million last year, compared to $1.4 million in 2007. It's a 46-per-cent increase from the $3.1 million spent in 2007. Annual reports for 2008-09 and 2009-10 show the Central LHIN spent $4.5 million on administration in the fiscal year ending March 31, of which 64 per cent went to sala~ ties and benefits. Dr. Rachlis’ comments come on the heels of the opening of the local LHIN's books for the first time in two years, revealing rising costs and a failure to meet most wait-time targets. “The LHINs have not been a perfect expe- rience, but we have to learn the lessons we can and we can learn a lot from what's gone on in other provinces, too," he added. ' Including York Region public health in the Central Local Health Integration Network, eliminating hospital boards and introducing more local boards to better engage the com- munity would all be considered improve- ments, Dr. Rachlis said. “It’s baby steps. This model has a number of problems," health policy analyst and asso- ciate professor at the University of Toronto Dr. Michael Rachlis said. York Region is included in the Central LHIN, one of 14 provincewide that plan, fund and manage health services, including hospi- tals. Community Care Access Centres (CCACs) and mental health and addiction agencies. BY DAVID FLEISGHER dfleischer@yrmg.com The way Ontario funds health services lags behind other provinces and while our 14 IHINs shouldn't be put out to pasture, some retooling is in order, experts say. (M'- m that. N! Pn- 5892 Main St. Stouffvllle wmmuuum ‘We’re still young organizations, so we’ve been ramping up, developing and hiring expertise.’ â€" bags ,. _ Offervafldwmvcoupon through ‘- expertise," she said. Region enrolled in a journalism program. 01 v