Ontario Connecting Long-Term Care Residents to More In-Home Diagnostic Services

The Ontario government is investing almost $10 million to improve long-term care for residents in York Region. This investment aims to offer more diagnostic services in long-term care homes, reducing the need for residents to go to hospitals. The goal is to enhance the quality of life for residents, decrease unnecessary emergency visits, and make care more convenient.

Ontario is launching an Equipment and Training Fund to help homes buy diagnostic equipment and train staff. This will better manage and treat conditions that often lead to hospital visits, like urinary tract infections, falls, pneumonia, and heart failure.

Residents will also have increased access to lab services at home through mobile community lab services. Nurse-Led Outreach Teams will expand to underserved areas, connecting residents with specialized healthcare consultations and diagnostic services.

These initiatives build on projects in Toronto and Barrie that increase access to diagnostic imaging services. The government’s plan focuses on four pillars: staffing and care, quality and enforcement, modernizing homes, and offering faster, more convenient access to services for seniors.

Ontario News Room: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1003657/ontario-connecting-long-term-care-residents-to-more-in-home-diagnostic-services