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Partnering with Patients: The Toronto Central LHIN Telehomecare Experience
Josie Barbita1, Susana Neves-Silva2
125 years of experience as a health services administrator in both delivery and management roles. Her experience includes working in the acute care, primary care and community care sectors. Within her professional practice portfolio, Josie has the responsibility for the planning, implementation and operations of the direct care nursing programs as well as managing the interprofessional specialty team consisting of nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and pharmacists at the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). She has led and implemented new models of care, such as Telehomecare, and most recently led the implementation of a new community wound care strategy. Josie holds a bachelor of science degree in nursing and a master of science degree in health administration.
Abstract:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure are responsible for significant healthcare costs in Ontario. One program developed to improve the management of these conditions is Telehomecare, which provides six months of health status monitoring and patient self-management education at no cost to participating COPD and heart failure patients. The Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN; formerly the Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre), an early participant, enrolled over 3,000 Telehomecare patients between 2012 and 2016. Research shows that the program reduces emergency department visits and hospital admissions, improves patient confidence and self-management skills and is associated with high patient satisfaction. Program improvements and expansion are ongoing.