Province drops $2 million on local healthcare (updated, photos)

A number of Algoma region delegates were in attendance today during a provincial government health care funding announcement at the Sault Ste. Marie Red Cross office located at 105 Allard Street.

They included Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti; Jennifer Wallenius, Algoma senior officer with the NE LHIN; Dr. Sharon Buehner, medical advisor at ARCH and lead physician with the Palliative Care Team; Dr. Kim Barker, medical officer of health for Algoma Public Health; Dr. Alan McLean, lead physician with the Superior Family Health Team; and Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Chief Robert Keetch.

The funding announcement includes support for Sault and area palliative care patients and organizations, new hires at the FJ Davey Home, assisted living resources in Thessalon, the establishment of a Sault area Health Link, and a new MV1 wheelchair accessible van operated by the Sault District Red Cross.

Four key positions will be added to the Palliative Care Team to help coordinate and improve local palliative care, and a 24-7 crisis line is under development for patients, families and care-givers, said Dr. Buehner.

Dr. McLean explained that the Health Link model of care develops programs and services that are geared more toward individual patient needs rather than attempting to fit said patients into existing services that may not fulfill their medical needs.

A news release issued by the Office of MPP David Orazietti that outlines to details of today's funding announcement follows.

*************************
Ontario Government Continuing to Invest in Community-Based Health Care Services for Seniors

The province is investing more than $1.3 million in community health care to support residents of Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding area, as well as up to $725,000 for the Sault Ste. Marie Health Link to provide timely access to home and community care, David Orazietti, MPP announced today.

“The people of Sault Ste. Marie deserve to have high quality health care here in our community and today's announcement of an additional $1.3 million continues to reinforce our government's continued commitment to providing increased access to important healthcare and community services," said Orazietti.

“The investment of up to a further $725,000 to establish the Sault Ste. Marie Health Link will ensure greater co-ordination of care, but more importantly, better outcomes for patients."

Provincial investments in Sault Ste. Marie and area in order to ensure people receive the right care, in the right place, while also reducing unnecessary emergency room visits and hospital readmissions, include:

Palliative Care Team ($487,000): A new Palliative Care Shared Care Team will work to improve quality of care for palliative patients, while contributing to expanding access, equity and quality for patients and their families during end-of-life care. The team will work to ensure people who choose to spend their last days at home are able to do so with appropriate community supports. The team is supported through North East CCAC and Palliative Care Algoma partners.

Behavioural Supports for Seniors with Dementia ($352,000): The FJ Davey Home has received new funding to hire two Registered Practical Nurses and four personal support workers. They will support person centred care for those living with dementia, other neurological conditions or mental illness who are exhibiting responsive behaviours as well as supporting their caregivers. With these new hires, the FJ Davey Home will also be contributing to the implementation of the Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) Action Plan in North Eastern Ontario.

Assisted Living ($232,000): Nine people with physical disabilities, including seniors, will receive assisted living services delivered by Physically Handicapped Adults Rehabilitation Association (PHARA) at its independent living units, located in Thessalon.

Accessible Van ($60,000): With funding for a new wheelchair accessible van, the Canadian Red Cross will assist seniors by providing transportation to access medical appointments and services that are allowing them to live independently.

“We know older adults want to live independently in their communities and homes across Northeastern Ontario, and we are working with providers to strengthen this part of our system,” said Louise Paquette, CEO of the North East LHIN.

As part of today's funding the province is also providing up to $725,000 toward the establishment of a Health Link for the Sault Ste. Marie area, led by Algoma Public Health, and includes 25 additional local health care and social service providers.

These partners will begin planning how to wrap patient-centred care around the area’s most high-need patients, many of them seniors with multiple conditions.

The Sault Ste. Marie Health Link will provide patients with better care through individual care plans and co-ordinated support from a tightly knit team of providers that could include doctors, nurses, specialists, hospitals, home care, long-term care and community agencies.

These providers will work together to develop solutions that address each patient’s specific needs.

“The importance of a Health Links is that by strengthening the ties between community partnership groups responsible for the delivery of health care services and by working as a local integrated system, we can better ensure that patients receive the right care at the right place at the right time,” said Dr. Barker, Medical Officer of Health, Algoma Public Health.

As part of today’s Health Links announcement the province is also investing $132,100 to establish the Sault Family Health Organization project, led by Dr. Alan McLean, which will treat patients with complex needs. 

These individuals are often seniors who have multiple chronic diseases and may be repeatedly re-admitted to hospital when they could be receiving more appropriate care in the community. 

Through these projects, doctors are using different treatment approaches and integrated health care teams to help these patients, particularly as they are discharged from hospital.

Quick Facts

• The North East LHIN is responsible for planning, integrating, coordinating and providing funding to 150 health service providers in Northeastern Ontario. It oversees $1.4-billion in local health care investments on behalf of the 565,000 residents of Northeastern Ontario.
• Over the next 20 years, the population of seniors aged 65 and over in the North East will increase from today’s 19 percent to more than 30 percent
• More than 1,460 seniors in the North East are currently receiving assisted living services – providing both scheduled and unscheduled around-the-clock help.

Learn More:

Ontario’s Action Plan for Health Care

Health Links

A short video that explains Health Links

*************************

(Photo: Jennifer Wallenius, Algoma senior officer with the NE LHIN, offers remarks during a Provincial Government health care funding announcement at the Sault Ste. Marie Red Cross office on Monday, December 15, 2014. Donna Hopper/SooToday)