Pioneering model of care celebrates 10 years
It came from a desire to deliver care better. To provide the necessary level of support to a patient whether inside the hospital or inside the home. For the last decade, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH), St. Joseph’s Home Care (SJHC) and St. Joseph’s Health System (SJHS) have been refining a new model of care that improves patient outcomes, increases patient satisfaction and reduces overall costs. Integrated Comprehensive Care (ICC) is celebrating 10-years of growth and success.
“We have much to celebrate as we reach our 10-year milestone,” says Winnie Doyle, Interim CEO, St. Joseph’s Health System. “The essence of our ICC model is to ensure that care is integrated with a strong focus on continuity. The evidence is clear. Patients receiving care in this model receive more effective care, have a better experience and their healthcare outcomes are improved.”
The development of ICC acknowledged that a trip to hospital, whether unexpected or scheduled can be unnerving for a patient and their loved ones. Even more so when it’s time to go home, trying to remember after care instructions, medication doses and follow-up appointments. This is where St. Joseph’s introduced the ICC Care Coordinator, as a member of the Program, providing patient-centered navigation, intensive case management and coordination of services in the community. Once at home, the patient has around-the-clock access to their care team by calling one central number. One electronic record is accessible to those within the circle of care. Computers and tablets allow for virtual visits with any member of the team while the patient is in the comfort of their own home.
Not only does this give patients and caregivers peace of mind and feel more confident but it also gets them home faster and avoids unnecessary visits to the emergency department.
“The impact of this program has been incredible and the improved experience for patients, caregivers and providers has been in an incredibly rewarding thing to see,” says Carolyn Gosse, Clinical VP Home Care and Seniors Care - University Health Network.
“I was very fortunate to have been involved with the integrated care program from its inception 10 years ago,” adds Gosse. “From the beginning, the new model of care was quite unique in Ontario and as a team of front-line providers, we were very focussed on improving the patient and caregiver experience as well as increasing value across the healthcare system.”
That value is significant. It’s estimated the ICC program provides up to $4000 in savings per patient.
Since the program launch in March 2012, 40-thousand patients have experienced this ground-breaking model. Initially ICC was offered to only those having joint replacements, but the success of the program has led to a wide expansion of care streams including surgical, chronic lung disease, chronic heart failure, dialysis care and in the last two years was introduced to COVID care.
“As we continue to support the healthcare system that has been significantly stressed during the pandemic, programs such as these are critical to delivering the best care we can,” says Gosse.
The ability to apply ICC as a philosophy framework to all care streams has been proven. Rolling it out to other health care partners is the next stage of the program’s advancement.
“We intend to continue to spread this model across the St Joseph’s Health System, as we partner with our local OHTs and beyond,” says Doyle.