Ministry of Health news release background- Feb. 25, 2020
Ontario is modernizing home and community care services to enable the introduction of integrated and innovative models of care. Since its initial introduction, the Home Care and Community Services Act, 1994 and the delivery model it supports have not kept pace with a number of changing dynamics, including:
- An aging population;
- Changing client expectations on the different types of care;
- Increasing opportunities for care at home; and
- Innovation in technology and delivery options.
At the same time, the act has created long-standing barriers that have restricted innovation in the delivery of home and community care, including:
- Rigid care coordination: Decisions about patient care are often made away from frontline care.
- Siloed care: Patients often interact with home care separately from primary and hospital care, which often includes multiple assessments leading to delays in care.
- Restrictive care plans: Patients have care plans with a set number of hours or visits with service maximums that can curtail care.
In response, Ontario is introducing the Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act and posting proposed new regulations under the Connecting Care Act, 2019 to bring an outdated system into the 21st century. Read the entire post here.
Relevant Links:
- New Plan to Modernize Home and Community Care in Ontario – Ministry of Health, Feb. 25, 2020
- H+K Memo – Home and Community Care – Feb25.20