The “Elgin/Middlesex/Oxford Transition of Care Committee,” a diverse group of long term care administrators, doctors, physiotherapists, and hospital administrators identified the five following priorities/gaps at the meeting:

1) shortage of LTC beds

2) lack of funding

3) mental health challenges

4) lack of specialized services

5) lack of education

The committee was struck early summer after “bottlenecking” of clients with complex needs became a common occurrence.

“Bottlenecking,” explained Yolanda Camiletti, coordinator of the 3B West Unit of Complex Continuing Care at Parkwood Hospital and one of the committee’s founders, is when patients languish in an acute care setting because there are no long term care beds or other suitable complex care supports to transfer them to. They end up occupying a bed needed by another acute care patient.

“It makes no sense,” said Camiletti, when interviewed by the Morning Report in June.

At the Oct. 20th meeting, which was attended by senior management from the Southwest LHIN, Tim Peterson, Parlimentary Assistant to the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long Term Care, and Khalil Ramal, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Citzenship and Culture and Irene Matherson, Member of Parliament, the committee developed multiple strategies for each identified gap.

For shortage of beds, the committee suggested increasing supportive housing and the development of short-term transitional beds. Under the lack of funding category, the group suggested networking, volunteer help, and searching for outside sources of funding.

For mental health challenges the group deemed the allocation of more resources to help LTC homes manage mental health issues as a high priority. For the lack of specialized services category, developing expertise to deal with younger patients was a principle suggestion. And lastly, under the ‘lack of education’ category, the committee recommended that communication links between LTC homes, hospitals and the CCAC be more person-centred.

Denise Bedard, founding member of the committee and administrator at LeisureWorld Scarborough, explains that the group is also developing a report to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care based on the identified priorities.

“[The report will help] in establishing guidelines and standards to meet the continuing demands in long term care and the transitional efficiencies of health care,” says Bedard.