Medical Care Provider Involvement in Ontario Assisted Living Homes: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Survey Analysis

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Services Research
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Assisted living is expanding in Ontario, Canada.
• Medical services in these settings lack consistent regulation, leading to varied physician involvement.
• Understanding current medical service provider engagement is crucial for improving resident care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the involvement and practice characteristics of medical service providers in Ontario assisted living homes.
• To assess the impact of on-site medical providers on residents' access to community-based physician care.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional study surveyed 88 assisted living homes in Ontario.
• Data collected from administrators covered health professional recruitment, involvement, support, documentation, and palliative care.
• Regression analysis compared community care access between homes with and without recruited medical providers.

Main Results:

• 61.4% of homes reported a medical service provider, predominantly attending physicians.
• Physicians often visited weekly, focusing on appointments, family discussions, and medication reviews.
• Homes with recruited providers showed a 76% lower likelihood of residents seeking community physician care (P < .001).

Conclusions:

• Significant variability exists in the recruitment and practice of medical providers within Ontario assisted living facilities.
• On-site medical care may enhance accessibility and patient-centeredness for assisted living residents.
• Findings offer insights for future research, policy development, and inter-provincial/international comparisons.