Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Investment Provides More Health Care in the Community, Funding Boost Will Make Wait Times Shorter
More patients who no longer need hospital treatment will now have more access to additional care in the community thanks to new provincial funding announced today by the Champlain LHIN.
The funding will help ease pressure on emergency rooms and is being provided under the province’s Aging at Home Strategy. It will go toward the creation of 248 new transitional care beds at hospitals in our region.
The Aging at Home Strategy allows people to stay in their homes while receiving supportive community care. The strategy also eases pressures on hospitals by finding care for patients who no longer need hospital services. Freeing up hospital beds helps patient flow throughout the hospital and leads to shorter wait times in the ER.
QUOTES
“The additional beds will allow our health system to function more smoothly at a time of increasing demand due to an aging population. What’s more, it will improve the quality of care for elderly patients by providing better rehabilitative care while they are still in hospital.”
Robert Cushman, CEO Champlain LHIN
“Investing in health care in the community is a priority. These investments will ensure that people get the care they need in the right setting and it will free up hospital resources and reduce wait times in our emergency rooms.”
Jim Brownell, MPP, Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry
QUICK FACTS
- The LHIN has implemented a number of programs to reduce the number of patients occupying hospital beds who no longer require the intensity of resources and could be more appropriately treated elsewhere. For example, the LHIN has increased alternative services such as assisted living at home (545 new spaces).
- Funding for the Champlain Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) increased from $158.4 M in 2007-08 to a current amount of $182.4 M.
- Across the province, 85 per cent of all Ontario patients who visit emergency rooms are being seen within the provincial targets and there has been an 8.7 per cent reduction in emergency room length of stay since April 2008.
Source: Champlain Local Health Integration Network
Email: champlain@lhins.on.ca
Website: www.champlainlhin.on.ca
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