On June 17, AFHTO presented its submission to the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly on Bill 175: Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020. Our key recommendations are:
- Delay the passage of Bill 175, Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020- Delay the passage of Bill 175, Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020 until the findings of the LTC commission and investigation are completed and the challenges to the pandemic response are detailed, including how care was or was not provided in people’s homes or in the community.
- Embed care coordination in primary care- We recommend the relationship between primary care and home and community care be strengthened by transitioning the function and associated resources of care coordination to primary care. This will bring greater efficiency and patient-centredness to care. Care will be integrated, allowing for seamless transitions of care for patients. It will reduce duplication and inefficiencies in the care coordination process and allow for more flexibility and integration in care planning. Patients will move through the system and providers with a single care plan, and outcomes will improve due to greater continuity and coordination of person-centred care.
- Supporting the patient’s journey through the health and social system with one patient record- The role of a care coordinator needs to be less administrative in nature and more systems related. What is critical is care coordination as a function and a role that will support the patient through the complex health and social systems. That individual needs to be a member of a team who works with the patient and the team as a system navigator for both health and social care, using the same electronic medical record to ensure one fulsome patient story.
Input on proposed regulations
AFHTO's feedback on proposed Home and Community Care Regulations - July 2021