April 2015
Good
day to all! When I started last month’s blog we were still awaiting spring’s
arrival and now after a long winter’s wait we finally seem to be getting a
taste of warmer weather and the sunny skies of spring are within sight. It
reminds me of the old saying “good things come to those who wait.” Showing the
ability to be patient and wait for good things also rings true when it comes to
the continued and ongoing transformation of our health care system.
It’s
hard to believe that it has been almost two and half years since the Ministry
of Health and Long-Term Care first announced Health
Links - an
innovative approach to how our care system is coordinated for people with
complex conditions. Since the announcement
in December 2012, all those involved have shown great patience as we worked together to change the
foundation of our health care system. The goal seemed straight forward enough –
encourage greater collaboration between existing local
health care providers, including family care providers, specialists, hospitals,
long-term care, home care and other community supports. With improved
coordination and information sharing, patients will receive faster care, will
spend less time waiting for services and will be supported by a team of health
care providers at all levels of the health care system.
And
we are a bit more than two years later and we are seeing the fruits of so many
people’s labour as amazing patient stories are being shared. Health Links
facilitators are bringing together the care providers involved with a patient
in a more cohesive way that has everyone on the same page and aware of the same
issues the person is facing – they are putting the patient at the centre of
their own care. One great example of the difference being made is “Gordon.”
Gordon is 65 years old and is living with more than five
chronic conditions. He lives alone, on a
limited income, uses a scooter (when it’s working) and home oxygen, and is
receiving home care three times a week. In the past Gordon had frequent
emergency visits and re-hospitalizations due to all of his health issues but
Gordon is now connected with a Health Link and he’s receiving extra assistance
with referrals and follow-ups with specialists. He has had more education on
his conditions and has been able to move to an assisted living facility in
Hamilton where he now gets the help he needs. Gordon has also been able
to get his scooter repaired so he can carry his oxygen with him, and has more
help with transportation to his medical appointments. Since becoming a part of
Health Links, Gordon has had no further emergency room visits or hospital
admissions - good news for the health
care system; great news for Gordon!
Health
Links has made a difference in Gordon’s life.
With the detailed follow-up and help from the Health Links facilitator Gordon has learned to better handle the
various complexities of his conditions. Gordon’s is a story of transformation;
a story of how a more efficient and productive system
providing excellent quality and valuable care improved a patient’s daily life.
Health Links supports the
implementation of our Strategic
Health System Plan (SHSP) and will work to achieve
its aim of dramatically improving the patient experience through quality,
integration and value. There are 11 Health Links across our LHIN and, though at
different stages of development and implementation, each of them has already
put in place firm foundations for change.To learn more about how the Health Links across our LHIN
are improving people’s lives with quality care, I encourage you to visit the HNHB
LHIN Health Links webpage.
If you or your organization would
like to be featured in a future blog or share a patient story in one of our Voices in the Community videos you can
reach us through our office, or if you’re on social media via our
Twitter handle - @HNHB_LHINgage. Your feedback and questions are
always welcome!