Monday, May 30, 2011
Champlain LHIN Improving Health Care for Seniors in Cornwall
New program created to alleviate local hospital pressures
May 30, 2011 - The Champlain LHIN is investing in a new ‘assess and restore’ program in Cornwall, adding health-care beds for seniors. The program will prepare patients to return home safely after a hospitalization or emergency room visit. It will also prevent premature admissions to long-term care homes and relieve pressures at Cornwall Community Hospital.
Scheduled to open this August and located in a 34-bed unit at the 510 Second Street location in Cornwall, the program will be operated and staffed by St. Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre. The total annual operating funding invested in the program is $2.3 million. Clients will stay an average of 90 days.
“The Champlain LHIN brought all the partners together to develop this innovative model of care for residents in the Cornwall area,” said Champlain LHIN CEO Alex Munter. “Seniors need access to a wide range of services, and we wanted to make their transitions in the health-care system as smooth as possible.”
To pay for equipment such as electric beds, patient lifts and other furniture and supplies, the Champlain LHIN provided an extra $100,000 in one-time funding. The Champlain Community Care Access Centre will also play a key role in helping to organize patient flow between the various inpatient settings and home.
The new beds will have a positive impact on Cornwall Community Hospital, particularly in preventing elective-surgery postponements by freeing up inpatient beds.
“We are extremely pleased that this initiative is moving forward,” said Jeannette Despatie, CEO of Cornwall Community Hospital. “Serving our seniors in a more appropriate setting also ensures that our acute-care resources are available for the critical health-care needs of our community.”
Officials at St. Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre look forward to being part of this exciting new health-care initiative.
“We are delighted to be collaborating with our partners in the delivery of a new assess and restore program to meet a community need, said Bonnie Ruest, Executive Director of St. Joseph’s Continuing care Centre. “This type of program will provide multi-disciplinary services in an appropriate setting in order for patient to regain strength, functional ability and confidence, enabling them to return home.”
In a previous plan, the new beds were to be used for traditional long-term care. That plan was changed – and funding for the program increased - when it became evident that seniors needed more specialized restorative care that would help them go home and maintain their independence for longer.
“The addition of the new beds at the Second Street location will be a huge benefit to our community,” said Jim Brownell, MPP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry. “I congratulate all the participating partners for working together to create this new health service, which will provide high-quality, individualized care for seniors.”
These new beds are part of a larger initiative of the Champlain LHIN to expand services for seniors, especially for those recovering from illness, across the Champlain region.
Source: Champlain Local Health Integration Network
Email: champlain@lhins.on.ca
Website: www.champlainlhin.on.ca
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