MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 22, 2017 /CNW/ - The Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) is working with recognized home care leaders to develop a framework for national principle-based standards. Responding to overwhelming interest from patients, carers, providers and policy planners, these standards will support consistent and equitable access to high quality home care services while respecting jurisdictional autonomy and distinctiveness.
Publicly funded home care programs across Canada are challenged with managing increased demand on limited resources and funding. The recent federal investment of $6 billion in home care over ten years will help provinces and territories develop the necessary capacity and services to meet the projected need for services. In response to the rapid growth in home care, national principle-based standards are necessary to support provinces and territories in their work to make home care better and ensure the federal investments result in measurable outcomes for Canadians.
"High quality care should be universal, no matter where it is being delivered, who is delivering it, or who is receiving care," stated Nadine Henningsen, CHCA Chief Executive Officer. "A principle-based approach to national home care standards will help clarify what Canadians can expect from the publicly funded home care system."
The CHCA is undertaking a series of multi-level consultations to define the scope, application and development processes for the standards. This work is guided by an Expert Advisory Group who will provide feedback, insight, and experience throughout the project. Members of the group include:
- Carmen Grabusic, Director Program Policy and Quality Improvement, Alberta Health
- Dr. Kathryn Hannah, Health Informatic Advisor, Canadian Nurses Association
- Wanda Morris, Vice President Advocacy, CARP
- Brent Diverty, Vice President Program Division, Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)
- Leighton McDonald, President, Closing the Gap Healthcare
- Sue VanderBent, Chief Executive Officer, Home Care Ontario
- Robert Morton, Former Board Chair, LHIN North Simcoe Muskoka
- Nancy Naylor, Associate Deputy Minister, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
- Susan Stevens, Senior Director of Continuing Care, Nova Scotia Health Authority
- Rik Luneburg, Vice President, ParaMed Home Health Care
- Tazim Virani, Senior Lead Strategic Initiatives, Saint Elizabeth
- Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics, Sinai Health System and the University Health Network Hospitals
- Dr. Thuy-Nga Pham, Physician Lead, South East Toronto Family Health Team
- Dr. John Hirdes, Professor, School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo
- Dr. Lori Mitchell, Researcher, Home Care, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
"I am pleased to be part of this exciting and necessary work," said Dr. Samir K. Sinha MD, Director of Geriatrics of the Sinai Health System and the University Health Network in Toronto. "We need to focus on strengthening our publicly funded home care system to ensure all Canadians can feel confident that the care they need will be available when they need it."
Canadians believe that home, not a hospital or a long-term care facility, is the best place to recover from an illness or injury, manage long-term conditions, and live out ones' final days. Through the development of national principle-based home care standards, the goal of more and better home care will become a reality for all Canadians.
About the Canadian Home Care Association
The Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA), incorporated in 1990, is a national not-for profit membership association representing home care stakeholders from governments (federal, provincial and territorial), health authorities, publicly funded home care programs, service providers, medical and technology companies, researchers and others with an interest in home care. The CHCA advances excellence in home care through leadership, awareness, advocacy and knowledge.
SOURCE Canadian Home Care Association
Catherine Suridjan, Senior Policy Analyst and Project Lead, E: [email protected], T: 905 567 7373
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