THUNDER BAY – What was originally supposed to be a short-term partnership to transition patients out of the regional hospital into unused beds at a long-term care home could remain for the next year.
The transitional care unit established at Hogarth Riverview Manor with patients from the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, established earlier this year with an expected wind down in March, instead has been operating throughout the year.
The North West Local Health Integration Network on Tuesday announced $2.57 million of the government’s announced $90 province-wide to address hallway medicine will help double the capacity of transitional care beds at the St. Joseph’s Care Group operated home to 64 from 32. That money is part of $10 million from the LHIN earmarked to address health care overcapacity in Thunder Bay Bay.
Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, the chief executive officer of the North West LHIN, said it’s not a permanent solution but a transitional remedy to ease pressure and improve patient flow.
“We’re actually very fortunate we have space that we can utilize right now. If it wasn’t for these vacant 64 beds, we would really have no vacant space within our community to be able to house patients who require different levels of care,” Crocker Ellacott said.
“We’re taking full advantage of the fact that we have these 64 beds and really being able to utilize them in a way that will help patients from spending time in hallways and overcrowding situations in the acute care hospital.”
Crocker Ellacott added those beds will continue to operate as transitional care until they are ready to be used for long-term care, which is expected to be another six to 12 months.
Last year’s harsh flu season had the hospital in a frequent state of surge capacity, which at its peak resulted in the facility being 84 patients above its 375-bed funded capacity. The regional hospital reached a high of 91 alternate level of care patients last year.
The transitional care unit fills a wing of Hogarth Riverview Manor that has not been able to operate as a result of personnel shortages, with St. Joseph’s Care Group unable to staff enough personal support workers to meet patient ratios.
Hospital staff members have been deployed to Hogarth Riverview Manor to provide care for patients in the transitional care unit.
Crocker Ellacott said hospital officials have said they intend to begin occupying the additional beds next week, with a plan of moving five patients per day.
“Having 64 patients who no longer require acute care services or specialized rehab services to be able to go to a transitional living situation while they wait for other levels of care is certainly better care for patients, a better experience and really helping to address the overcapacity problem within Thunder Bay,” Crocker Ellacott said.
Crocker Ellacott, who said there are multiple pieces to the LHIN’s multi-pronged approach, said the funding also includes 14 overcapacity beds at the hospital. As well, the LHIN identified increased supportive housing units, new wait at home beds and a network of individualized community enhancements as other specific strategies.
The joint mobile crisis response team partnership between the Thunder Bay Police Service and Canadian Mental Health Association that received LHIN funding has resulted in 52 diversions of patients that previously would have been brought to the hospital’s emergency department.
“It’s a wonderful partnership and it’s been very successful to date,” Crocker Ellacott said. “It diverts patients from unnecessary acute care services.”
