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Alternative Levels Of Care Strategy Will See Patients Discharged From
Hospitals Sooner
TORONTO, Feb. 10 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is investing in more
appropriate health care for people who no longer need acute hospital care,
Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.
"Too many Ontarians are not receiving health care services in the best
possible setting," Smitherman said. "Instead of having them remain in hospital
after the need for acute care is past, we are creating beds and improving care
in our long-term care homes so that people can get the care they need closer
to home."
The Government is investing $29.2 million in its Alternative Levels of
Care (ALC) strategy. The strategy incorporates three complementary programs;
- The Interim LTC Beds Program. $10 million to create up to
500 interim long-term care (LTC) beds for people who are waiting
in hospital for a permanent LTC bed in their community.
- The New Convalescent Care Program. $5.75 million to establish up
to 340 convalescent care beds in LTC homes for people who no
longer need intensive hospital care but are not yet ready to
return home.
- The High Intensity Needs Fund (HINF). $13.45 million to purchase
equipment and supplies needed for the care of patients who require
the highest levels of care in a long-term care setting.
"These investments will make the best use of our health care resources
while relieving pressure on hospitals, which often find themselves providing
all kinds of care to all kinds of patients," said Smitherman.
The interim long-term care and convalescent care beds have been allocated
on a regional basis across the province. Long-term care homes and hospitals
within each region can now apply for this funding.
"Investing in areas where there is currently a shortage of community
capacity will help hospitals discharge patients more quickly," said Hilary
Short, President and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association. "By creating
alternatives to acute care hospital beds, this investment will allow hospitals
to better target their acute care resources to those who need them most."
"The convalescent care pilot projects in Ottawa are a shining example of
government, hospitals, Community Care Access Centres and long-term care homes
working together to make changes to provide care to people in the right
setting at different points of their illness and recuperation. It's great to
see that the success in Ottawa will now be available to people elsewhere in
Ontario," said Greg Fougère, Executive Director of the Perley and Rideau
Veterans' Health Centre.
Today's announcement is part of the McGuinty government's comprehensive
plan to improve health care in Ontario. It's a plan that includes reducing
wait times for key procedures, creating Family Health Teams, increasing the
number of doctors and nurses, and investing heavily in community-based health
care in order to ease the pressure on hospitals and deliver care where
patients need it most - closer to home.
This news release, along with other media materials, such as matte
stories and audio clips, on other subjects, are available on our website at:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca under the News Media section.
For more information on achievements in health care, visit:
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca.
Version française disponible
Backgrounder
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INTERIM LONG-TERM CARE AND CONVALESCENT CARE BEDS
The McGuinty government is improving access to more appropriate health
care for people who no longer need acute hospital care by investing
$29.2 million across the province. The funding will create up to 500 interim
LTC beds for those who are waiting in hospital for a permanent LTC bed in
their community. The investment will also fund up to 340 convalescent care
beds in LTC homes for those who are still recuperating but no longer need
intensive hospital care.
Each region in the province has been allocated beds. Listed below is a
breakdown of the bed allocation:
<<
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Region/CCAC New Convalescent Care Beds Interim LTC Beds
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Central East
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Simcoe 10 41
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York 11 N/A
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Peterborough 10 35
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Durham 10 N/A
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Central East Total 41 76
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Central West
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Peel 41 N/A
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Halton 12 N/A
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Waterloo 6 26
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Central West Total 59 26
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Central South
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Hamilton 35 N/A
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Niagara N/A 41
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Central South Total 35 41
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East
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Hastings-Prince
Edward N/A 40
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Kingston-Frontenac,
Lennox-Addington 12 40
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Ottawa 37 20
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Renfrew N/A 20
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East Total 49 120
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North
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Kenora Rainy River N/A 10
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Near North 4 27
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Algoma 5 45
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Manitoulin Sudbury 10 10
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Thunder Bay 9 77
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Cochrane 4 26
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Muskoka East Parry
Sound 4 12
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North Total 36 207
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South West
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London/Middlesex 19 21
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Grey/Bruce 6 4
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Elgin N/A 1
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Perth N/A 4
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Essex 14 N/A
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South West Total 39 30
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Toronto (includes East York, North York, Scarborough, Toronto, Etobicoke)
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Toronto Total 81* N/A
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TOTAL 340 500
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Program Descriptions
The Convalescent Care Program, Interim LTC Beds Program and High
Intensity Needs Fund meet community need, respond to government priorities,
and address hospital pressures, but from different perspectives.
The Convalescent Care Program provides appropriate, quality care to
individuals, some of whom, although generally not categorized as ALC, often
stay in acute care longer than necessary. Providing convalescent care in LTCHs
will speed discharge from hospitals and minimize the need for acute care
readmission. Convalescent care beds will come from existing LTC beds, which
operators will apply to re-designate to convalescent care.
The Interim LTC Beds Program facilitates the discharge of hospital
patients to LTCHs in communities with LTC bed shortages. Residents stay in
interim LTC beds in health care facilities or hospitals until one of their
permanent LTC choices is available. The result will be reductions in LTC wait
times for ALC patients and reductions in the number of ALC patients.
The High Intensity Needs Fund (HINF) covers additional funding to provide
services and clinical support to patients with complex needs such as complex
wound care.
Based on the pilot program experience in Ottawa, the average patient in a
convalescent care bed stayed between 30 to 45 days. As for patients in interim
long-term care beds, the length of stay depends primarily on which long term
care home they are waiting to get into and how popular that home is.
It will take about three weeks to receive proposals following the call
for applications. Once the proposals are received and approved, the time to
complete the process will depend on the readiness of the providers that are
applying.
Program Funding
- $10 million to create up to 500 interim long-term care (LTC) beds
for people who are waiting in hospital for a permanent LTC bed in
their community
- $5.75 million to establish up to 340 convalescent care beds in LTC
homes for people who are still recuperating but no longer need
intensive hospital care
- $13.45 million for the High Intensity Needs Fund (HINF) to
purchase equipment and supplies needed for the care of patients
who require the highest levels of care in a long-term care
setting.
Backgrounder
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STAKEHOLDERS COMMENT ON ADDITIONAL BEDS IN LONG-TERM CARE HOMES
"We welcome today's announcement of more beds in long-term care homes.
Relieving pressure on our hospitals by moving patients into long-term care
homes will hopefully relieve some of the pressures in Emergency departments
and Emergency Medical Services."
- Bruce Farr, Chief/General Manager, Toronto Emergency Medical Services
"Speeding up the process of moving recovering patients out of the
hospital and into designated long-term care beds benefits patients as it frees
up space for people who are in need of more acute care."
- Diane Hupé, Senior Vice President, Patient Care, SCO Health Service
(Résidence St. Louis) (Ottawa)
"Today's announcement is the result of the combined efforts of Ottawa
hospitals, the Ottawa Community Care Access Centre and Ottawa long-term care
providers. By working together, we're building a more efficient health care
system."
- Tim Plumptre, Ottawa Community Care Access Centre Board Chair
"Today's announcement means more patients will move from a hospital bed
to a long-term care home. It's important for patients to receive care in a
setting that is tailored to their health care needs." - Karen Sullivan,
Executive Director - Ontario Long-Term Care Association (OLTCA)
-30-
For further information: Members of the media: Eva Lannon, Minister's Office, (416) 327-4320; David Jensen, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, (416) 314-6197; Members of the general public: (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154
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