Media Alert - Dramatic results show shifting chronic disease care closer to home reduces hospital use

OTTAWA, Jan. 17, 2018 /CNW/ - The Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI) will release dramatic new results from an initiative moving chronic care from the hospital to the home.

WHEN:  The results will be released on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 via CNW

WHAT:  Health systems from six regions across the country are working with CFHI to expand services that support Canadians with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in their homes resulting in:

• Plummeting reductions in hospital readmissions
• Significant decreases in emergency department visits
• Improved quality of life for patients and their caregivers
• A major expansion to reach significantly more patients across the country

Spokespeople:

• Maureen O'Neil, President, CFHI
• Maria Judd, Vice President Programs, CFHI
• Regional representatives from participating hospitals and healthcare organizations
• Compelling patient stories

B-Roll will be available featuring spokespeople (ENG and FRE), plus cover shots of patients living with COPD.  There will also be region-specific statistics available.

"We can keep people with chronic disease out of the hospital by partnering with them to reinvent the way we deliver care so it meets their needs," says Maria Judd, Vice President of Programs, CFHI. "All Canadians who use and pay for the healthcare system, not just those with a chronic disease, will benefit from the emergency department and hospital bed capacity this approach will free up as it spreads across the country."

The Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement identifies proven innovations and accelerates their spread across Canada, improving patient care, the health of Canadians and value-for-money. CFHI is a not-for-profit organization funded by Health Canada. Visit cfhi-fcass.ca for more information.

The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada

SOURCE Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement

Elissa Freeman, National/Ontario, 416.565.5605; Robyn McIsaac, Atlantic Canada, 902.440.1551; Holly Roy, Western Canada, 780.991.2323