NEW PROGRAM AT LDMH TO IMPROVE CARE FOR ELDERLY
Hospital receives funding to develop innovative model of care
Leamington, ON – A new program was unveiled today at Leamington District Memorial Hospital (LDMH) to improve the care delivered to frail elderly patients while reducing Alternate Level of Care (“ALC”) levels and the number of patients waiting for Long-Term Care placement.
The new program called “Assess / Restore” is a comprehensive approach that will quickly identify patients who may either be diverted directly from the Emergency Department back to their homes or who require more focused care while in hospital. There will be 10 specially designated beds in the inpatient area that will provide patients with more intensive services like physiotherapy and occupational therapy and will also support patients in activities of daily living so those patients can transition home more easily.
Hospital Chief Executive Officer, John P. Stenger, said, “this is an exciting opportunity for LDMH to provide more appropriate care to our elderly patients.”
Senior Director of Performance, Contracts and Allocation Brad Keeler, who was also on hand for the announcement, commented, “we are working with and encouraging all health care organizations to develop new and innovative approaches to delivering health care in order to help the elderly age at home longer, avoid long hospitalizations and ensure the most effective use of valuable health care resources.”
Other goals for the program include:
The LHIN is providing $900,000 in one-time funding to initiate the project and to evaluate outcomes and success. One of the key outcomes will be the reduction of Alternate Level of Care patients in the hospital. Currently LDMH has one of the highest percentages of ALC patients in hospital in the region.
“The ALC problem is significant because it often means longer wait times for hospital care.” says Keeler. “This program will help LDMH to better meet the needs of local seniors and give them the opportunity to return home, which is where they tell us where they want to be..”
“Our goal is to ensure this program is sustainable over the long-term,” says John P. Stenger, “this program requires support and cooperation from the entire team of providers from both the community and the hospital. We have taken a very collaborative approach in planning this program working closely with the CCAC, family physicians and hospital staff in the design of the services we will provide.”
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John P. Stenger
CEO