Who We Are

The Northwestern Ontario Regional Specialized Services Network (RSSN) is a collaborative partnership of over 30 system partners working across geography, sector, and lifespan. Together, we coordinate planning and delivery of specialized health services across Northwestern Ontario, supporting the four locally integrated Ontario Health Teams (OHTs).

RSSN is rooted in a collaborative model that brings together service providers, OHTs, academic institutions, provincial partners, and patient/client/resident representatives. This collective approach reflects the regional uniqueness of Northwestern Ontario—with its rurality, diverse populations, and vast geography—and ensures that the care people receive is coordinated, consistent, and equitable.

 

Our Purpose

The purpose of the RSSN is to:

  • Coordinate regional specialized services across OHTs to ensure patients, clients, and residents have access to the full continuum of care.

  • Support regional enablers such as digital health, population health management, and data capacity to achieve system-wide priorities.

  • Provide infrastructure and coordination so that OHTs can deliver care effectively and equitably across the region.

Our Value Statement

We are committed to fostering collaboration, respect, transparency, and equity across all initiatives. Every interaction and decision we make is grounded in supporting the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care for the communities we serve.

Guiding Principles

As we work together, RSSN members commit to:

  • Keep patients, clients, and families at the centre of all decisions.

  • Actively involve members and share responsibility for outcomes.

  • Ensure respect, compassion, and courage in all interactions.

  • Value diverse voices and listen intently to different perspectives.

  • Be transparent, sharing process and content broadly and in a timely way.

  • Engage meaningfully with people who can enrich the work.

  • Represent and report back regularly to the organizations they represent.

  • Stay focused and timely, with clarity of purpose.

  • Think boldly and embrace systems thinking.

Scope of Our Work

RSSN provides coordination, alignment, and backbone supports across the region in the following areas:

Common Regional Initiatives

  • Digital Health – one record vision, regional cybersecurity, EHR renewal.

  • Information Management – harmonized planning, data governance, and stewardship.

  • Primary Care – regional capacity assessment, advocacy, and development of the NW Regional Primary Care Network.

  • Integrated Clinical Pathways – support for CHF, COPD, LLP, and more.

  • Specialized Backbone Supports – project management, change management, decision support, prevention and screening.

Regional Enablers

  • Digital Health: advancing electronic health record renewal, cybersecurity, and shared digital proposals.

  • Data & Population Health: building regional capacity for data governance, evaluation, and population health planning.

  • Knowledge Sharing: supporting integrated planning through consistent communication across OHTs.

Regional Specialized Service Delivery & Planning

  • Coordination across four OHTs

  • Linkage to provincial specialized programs

  • Alignment with Integrated Care Pathways

Timeline of Progress

  • Where We Started – Building partnerships and defining shared goals.

  • Achievements – Establishing guiding principles, advancing digital health priorities, supporting clinical pathways.

  • Current State – Coordinated efforts across four OHTs with regional enablers in place.

  • Future Direction – Advancing equity-focused, patient-centered care through innovation, integration, and collaboration.

 

 

Deliverables

RSSN is responsible for:

  • Developing a coordinated regional service planning and delivery framework.

  • Supporting OHTs in implementing Ontario Health–directed Integrated Clinical Pathways.

  • Coordinating regional enablers (digital health, data, evaluation, population health).

  • Advocating as a common voice for the unique needs of Northwestern Ontario.

 

 

Governance & Accountability

RSSN is not a decision-making body over local OHTs. Each OHT maintains its own governance. Instead, RSSN works collaboratively to guide the implementation of regional priorities in specialized services, digital health, data, and knowledge sharing.

Membership and team structures are reviewed annually to ensure alignment with evolving priorities, resources, and vision.

 

 

Membership

The Network includes:

  • Regional specialized services providers
  • OHT leadership
  • Ontario Health (including home and community support services)
  • Academic partners
  • Patient, client, resident, and caregiver representatives

Every OHT and represented community has a voice at the table, ensuring planning reflects the unique needs of Northwestern Ontario populations.

 

 

The Network is collaboratively led by:

  • Administrative Lead / Facilitator
  • Indigenous Lead (Regional Indigenous Director)
  • Patient/Client/Resident Lead
  • Primary Care Lead
  • OHT Leads (All Nations Health Partners, Rainy River District, Kiiwetinoong Healing Waters, Noojmawing Sookatagaing)

 

 

Our Team & Structure

RSSN Core Team

  • Jessica Logozzo – Vice President, Strategy and Regional Transformation

  • Dr. Nicole Zavagnin – Primary Care Provider

Regional Core Team

  • Project Management

  • Change Management

  • Decision Support