LONDON, ON – The South West LHIN Board of Directors has approved funding for local initiatives that will help people to move out of acute hospital beds to alternate care settings such as long term care homes, retirement homes and their own homes with appropriate supports. These strategies are designed to alleviate Alternate Level of Care (ALC) pressures in area hospitals by enabling individuals to access the appropriate care at the right time in the right setting.
In May 2008, the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care announced $22 million in new priority funding for Ontario’s 14 LHIN’s to address ALC issues. The South West LHIN received $1.99 million in new funding for 2008/09. Reducing the number of ALC patients frees up acute care beds for patients who may be in an emergency department awaiting transfer to a regular hospital bed, or for those whose surgery may be delayed because no post-operative bed is available.
The South West LHIN has allocated these new funding resources to support the following initiatives:
- Transitional care beds at Parkwood Hospital that will provide restorative care and optimize an individual’s capacity to return to living safely in the community. The South West CCAC is partnering on this initiative to facilitate the discharge process from an acute care environment.
- Geriatric Emergency Management (GEM) - The fundamental goal is to improve health care delivery to seniors presenting to the Emergency Department in London Hospitals. GEM nurses will screen and assess elderly patients at high risk and coordinate further assessment, care and follow-up with community partners.
- Interim Long Term Care (LTC) Home - This initiative proposes the addition of 5 LTC beds in Tillsonburg to facilitate the movement of ALC patients out of the acute care hospital.
- Interim Retirement Home Beds - Area retirement homes can offer interim beds for individuals who need enhanced care for a defined time frame while awaiting LTC home placement or a safe return to their home.
- Rapid Emergency Assessment for Community Transition (REACT) - The diversion of patients who are medically stable from St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Emergency Department. These supports implemented in a timely way prevent hospital admissions and facilitate patient safe return to their home or redirection to an alternative setting, with an ultimate return home.
- Nurse-led LTC Home Outreach Teams - This program, led by the South West Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) will build on an existing program, the Advanced Home Care Team (AHCT), and will provide enhanced LTC Home access to nurse practitioners and potentially divert these clients from emergency rooms and hospital where possible.
- ‘Flo’ Collaborative - The primary objective of this initiative is to facilitate the flow of patients through the system to the best level of care, and has already been successfully piloted in St. Thomas and Owen Sound. This new funding would see the expansion of this program.
The South West LHIN believes that ALC pressures and, consequently, Emergency Department (ED) wait times, can only be alleviated through investments such as these in our health care system. In addition, the South West LHIN will continue to seek opportunities to support preventative measures to address patient flow challenges. These programs have the potential to reduce ED wait times in our hospitals.
QUOTES
“These initiatives will advance the provincial Emergency Department Wait Time Strategy throughout the South West LHIN by ensuring that people who no longer require a hospital bed move to a more appropriate setting for continuing care,” said Norm Gamble, Chair South West LHIN Board of Directors. “Careful consideration was given to each initiative to ensure that implementation will result in better care, in the right setting, for people.”
“We are thrilled to provide leadership for the expansion of the Flo Collaborative in the South West LHIN,” said Pat Campbell, President and CEO of Grey Bruce Health Services. “The pilot team has improved the processes for patients to be discharged from hospital in a safe and timely manner with the big success being a decrease in overall length of hospital stay and more patients accessing home care when leaving the hospital. We also experienced a reduction in staff sick time during the pilot.” continued Campbell. “The shortened length of stay has helped us to be timelier in admitting from the Emergency Department. This represents a significant improvement for the health care system. “
“Patients admitted to an acute care bed in hospital when the level of care they need would be more appropriately delivered in an alternate setting are at high risk of becoming more ill in hospital which may result in premature long term care placement.” said Dr. Lori Teeple, Acting Chief of Staff at ST Thomas Elgin General. “The REACT initiative brings together a multidisciplinary team in a concerted effort to implement a patient focused plan of community care right from the ER.”
QUICK FACTS
The priorities fund was initially established by the ministry in 07/08 to fund initiatives that enabled LHINs to address key local priorities.
In May 2008, the ministry identified $22 million in priority funding to invest in local solutions to help alleviate ALC pressures.
The South West LHIN received $1.99 million to be allocated in the remainder of 2008/09. This amount, along with an additional $2 million, will be invested in 2009/10.
For additional information contact:
Annabelle Mackey
519 672-0445, ext. 2573
annabelle.mackey@lhins.on.ca
Matthew Clarke
519 672-0445, ext. 2566
matthew.clarke@lhins.on.ca
Toll-free: 1 866 294-5446
www.southwestlhin.on.ca