Essential Care Partner Program
We at St. Joe’s are committed to delivering better care for patients and their families through meaningful engagement and partnership. Evidence-based practice indicates that an important way to achieve better care and experience for patients is to involve their loved ones in their care. Growing evidence, especially during the pandemic, demonstrated and magnified the importance of an Essential Care Partner.
The Essential Care Partner program ensures patients are supported by those they identify as most appropriate to provide to them the unique support they need. The ECP is a valued member of the patient care team, honoured for their work and support!
An Essential Care Partner (ECP) is an individual who knows the patient well, and works together with the care team to support the patient’s well-being to achieve the best possible health outcome.
The ECP is an individual designated by the patient or the patient in collaboration with the care team and their Substitute Decision Maker.
What an ECP can do?
The Essential Care Partner works together with the care team to determine what activities they can participate in to support the patient to achieve the best possible outcome.
The ECP could provide assistance to the patient in any of the following areas: emotional, social, psychological, and physical based on their capacity and comfort.
Education and Resources
To learn more about the Essential Care Partner role and activities please click on the link for the booklet and/or view the video:
External Resources
- Infection and Prevention and Control for Caregivers and Families – Free online course from McMaster University, can be accessed here.
- Ontario Caregiver Association
- Sinai Health Hospital toolkit - Essential Care Partner Toolkit
- The Canadian Institute of Healthcare Improvement
- Institute for Healthcare Improvement
- Institute for Patients Family Centre Care
If you want to be actively engaged in the care of your loved one, please ask the care team how to become an Essential Care Partner. Although the ECP program is not available on all units at this time, the team should be able to engage and integrate you in the patient care to the level that the patient is comfortable to involve you in their care.