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Some patients will require further care at home after discharge from the hospital. The hospital works in partnership with many community agencies and home care can be arranged before you leave. If you feel that you may need care at home, please be sure to discuss this with a member of your health care team.
Who Will Decide About Your Care?
Your doctor will write a discharge order when you are ready to go home or move to another type of care. There is a team of people here to work with you in assessing your future needs. The Social Worker/Discharge Planner will be your contact with the team. He/she will ensure that you are involved in all decisions. These decisions will be about going home or going to another setting.
ALTERNATE LEVEL OF CARE
Some patients may only be remaining in hospital because they are waiting for placement in a long-term care facility (nursing home), chronic care facility, rehabilitation facility, retirement home, or a home care program. These patients have finished the acute care phase of their treatment and are designated as requiring an Alternate Level of Care (ALC).
The Ministry of Health applies a co-payment charge to ALC patients. The co-payment charge is a daily fee that contributes toward the cost of accommodation and meals while waiting in hospital for longer-term arrangements. The fee will start on the day that you are designated as an ALC patient. You will be informed of the implementation of these charges by the Discharge Planner and the Finance Department will bill you for the co-payment.
As an ALC patient you will be asked to select up to three facilities. If a bed in your preferred long-term care facility is not immediately available, you will also be asked to make an interim/temporary selection in a facility that has an available bed. In this case, your position on the waiting list(s) of your preferred facilities will be maintained. As well, at any time after you leave the hospital, you may review and change your facility choices.
You may be asking "why can't I, or my family member, remain in hospital to wait for my preferred facility choice?" The answer is one of bed availability. The longer people wait in the hospital, fewer beds are available for our acutely ill patients who then will wait longer on stretchers in the Emergency Department. This backs up the department and limits our ability to treat Emergency cases.
If your health care team determines that you require long-term care, this will be discussed with you and your family. We do understand that applying for and waiting for a long-term care facility bed is a difficult time for you and your family.
If you have questions or concerns about your discharge plans, please ask to speak with your Social Worker or Discharge Planner. For patients who need to apply for a reduction in the co-payment fee, ask to speak to a Discharge Planner or contact the Finance Department (extension 56851) for additional information.
Lifeline Program
William Osler Health Centre is committed to ensuring that enhanced and quality Personal Response and Support Services are available to our area residents through the Lifeline Program.
William Osler Health Centre has been providing the Lifeline Program to residents in the Region of Peel since 1986, and to the Etobicoke communities since 1998, through our partnership with Lifeline Systems Canada.
Lifeline’s Personal Response and Support Service provides you with peace of mind to live independently at home - knowing that help is just a push of a button away. When you press your Personal Help Button, you are connected within seconds to a highly trained Lifeline Response Centre Associate who accesses your personal health profile, assesses your situation and arranges for the appropriate assistance. This can include notifying friends or family if necessary. The Associate will also follow up to make sure help arrives. Our experienced and caring Associates have only one mission: to get you the best care possible, fast.
Lifeline is suited to those who are:
- Home alone on a frequent basis.
- At risk for falls.
- Using adaptive devices to assist with walking.
- Managing a medical condition.
- Considering a move to an assisted living facility.
- At risk for readmission.
Lifeline Systems Canada manages and operates the Lifeline Program on behalf of William Osler Health Centre.
The expertise and specialized services that Lifeline Systems Canada offers ensures that the high level of service that our Lifeline Subscribers are accustomed to will continue.
You can order Lifeline by calling (905) 494-6605 or visiting www.lifeline.ca.
ProResp Oxygen in the Home Services
On October 1, 2006, William Osler Health Centre entered into a joint venture with Professional Respiratory Home Care Service Corporation (ProResp) to provide home oxygen services to Osler patients.
William Osler ProResp is committed to improving your quality of life and contributing to our community.
Our newly-formed joint venture company is named William Osler ProResp Inc., Oxygen in the Home is committed to improving quality of life and to providing a continuum of care from hospital to home.
Trillium gift of life
Organ and tissue donation for transplantation is a critical component of our healthcare system. Not only does organ and tissue donation improve the lives of thousands of people each year, it saves lives. It also provides families the opportunity to honour a loved one's wish to donate.
You may find the topic of organ and tissue donation an uncomfortable one to think about, let alone make a firm decision about. But keep in mind that when someone suddenly passes away, the family is often faced with this difficult decision at the worst of times. Things can be made a little easier if the family is aware of the wishes of the organ and tissue donor. Knowing that their loved one's final wishes were carried out, and helped to save lives in the process, can be a great source of solace. For more information please contact Trillium Gift of Life Network @ 1-800-263-2833 or visit our website at www.giftoflife.on.ca
COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES
After your discharge, you may need to contact additional health care resources in the community. Here are some names and phone numbers that you may find helpful: Community Care Access Centre: (Information and Referral Line)
Guelph (519) 823-2550
Halton 1-800-810-0000
Hamilton (905) 523-8600
Metro Toronto (416) 506-9888
North York (416) 222-2241
Peel (905) 796-0040
York (Toronto) (416) 780-1919
York (Region) 1-888-470-2222
City of Toronto Public Health Department
Toronto Health Connection (416) 338-7600
General Inquiries - Etobicoke Office (416) 338-1515
Peel Health
TOGETHER for HEALTH
Regional Municipality of Peel
Main number: (905) 791-7800
Web site: www.region.peel.on.ca/health
HEALTH LINE PEEL
(905) 799-7700
telehealth ontario
For health advice 24 hours a day,
7 days a week .....................................1-800-797-0000
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