Addressing alternative level of care (ALC) numbers at northern hospitals is a priority for the North East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), says its senior director of policy and planning.
“It's an ongoing challenge but we've got good people around the table that understand it's a situation that requires the whole system,” the North East LHIN's Terry Tilleczek told Sudbury.com. “The challenge is you're taking this huge ocean-liner and you're trying to turn it.”
On Nov. 7 Health Sciences North reported it had 103 ALC patients. Health Sciences North told Sudbury.com that for much of 2016, it has had between 70 and 100 ALC patients in the hospital.
Since May though, hospital spokesperson Dan Lessard said, the numbers have been trending up.
Alternative level of care patients are admitted to hospital for an acute episode – like a broken hip, a stroke or a heart attack – but can't be discharged immediately after their primary health problem is addressed.
The patients take up hospital beds when they would be better served in a community care setting, such as their own homes or a long-term care facility, while they recover.
That can lead to longer emergency department wait times and a greater strain on the hospital system.
“We have an aging population, and we have a health-care system that needs to transform and support a different population than when it was established back in the 1950s with the beginning of Medicare,” Tilleczek said.
He said the North East LHIN meets with regional hospitals, including Health Sciences North, on a regular basis, and ALC numbers are an ongoing topic of discussion at those meetings.
The most recent meeting with HSN occurred on Monday, Oct, 31, and included talk around ways to reduce its high ALC numbers.
Tilleczek said a relatively new program at Finlandia could help address the problem by providing enhanced care for seniors with dementia.
LHINs across Ontario are also running pilot programs to make the transition from the hospital to home and community care more seamless.
“We've been looking at how we can utilize some existing infrastructure in the community to provide that type of service,” Tilleczek said.
