Some relief has arrived for the patient crisis clogging up the Cornwall Community Hospital. Eight news beds for “alternate level of care” patients have been opened at St. Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre, the Champlain Local Health Integration Network announced today (July 27).
The beds, provided under a new restorative care program at St. Joseph’s, are for hospital clients who no longer need acute care and await an alternate level of care’ or ALC.
The goal of the progam is to get patients back home to reduce admissions to long-term care homes, according to the LHIN. The program is designed to strengthen and condition patients so they can return back to life in their community whether it be their own home or a retirement residence.
The maximum length of stay in the program is 90 days, after which clients are discharged to the community with support services in place.
Clients are generally medically stable, but have experienced a decline in their independent function due to progressive debilitation or physical deconditioning, according to the LHIN. They receive physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and also benefit from social activities and shared dining.
Bonnie Ruest, CEO of St. Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre, said one the new program’s first clients actually shed tears of joy, she was so happy to work towards returning back home.
“These patients really appreciate the opportunity to receive rehabilitation in a supportive setting,” Ruest said.
Jim Brownell, MPP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, heralded news of the program. “The new transitional care program is certainly a welcome addition to health services in the Cornwall area,” he said. “We’re building a better health system that provides the right services at the right time and place.”
The initiative will free up beds at Cornwall Community Hospital, which cancelled outpatient surgeries in June due to a patient backlog. The hospital has been swamped with as many as 50 ALC patients taking up acute care beds in the past month which has caused a major strain on hospital resources. The Champlain LHIN supports the project through Aging at Home funds.
