MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
June 15 , 2017
LONDON, Ontario – London Health Sciences Centre’s Connecting Care to Home (CC2H) program has been named as a recipient of the 3M Health Care Quality Team Awards for Quality Improvement Initiative(s) Across a Health System by the Canadian College of Health Leaders. This award recognizes three important elements: innovation, quality and teamwork.
“The CC2H program is a great example of LHSC working with our partners to implement new and innovative methods to improve the patient experience,” says Laurie Gould, Chief Clinical and Transformation Officer, London Health Sciences Centre. “The team is very appreciative of this national recognition for our efforts.”
CC2H is an integrated, multi-disciplinary team approach across care settings, including hospital, community and primary care developed to support patients with chronic diseases that may experience higher rates of emergency department visits and readmission following a hospital stay. LHSC partners with Community Care Access Centre (now part of the South West LHIN), St. Joseph’s Health Care London and Thames Valley Family Health Team to provide CC2H.
CC2H currently focuses on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure (HF) admitted to hospital where the disease and symptoms could be better managed in the community, and the patient experience improved through patient self-management.
CC2H successfully integrates patient care between hospital and home by offering patients education and involvement, leading practice care pathways, physician participation through teleconference with both family and hospital physicians, clinical patient data, a 24/7 live support phone line and supported self-care initiatives. Patients are given the knowledge and tools to manage their symptoms at home.
“This has truly changed the experience for the patient in their home, and has allowed them to have a freedom to manage their disease as well as gain improved quality of life,” says Donna Ladouceur, Vice President, Home and Community Care, South West LHIN.
“This approach improves patient experience, clinical outcomes, provider experience, and lowers overall health care costs,” explains Gould. “Data shows that hospital length of stay (LOS), readmission within 30 days and total cost per patient to the health care system have declined.”
With this award, 3M Canada Company encourages institutions and health care providers to embrace quality management by developing innovative approaches that bring about sustainable improvement. The Canadian College of Health Leaders announced 27 winners representing health care leaders and innovative health care organizations from across Canada. LHSC received their award at a ceremony in Vancouver on June 13.
About London Health Sciences Centre
London Health Sciences Centre has been at the forefront of medicine in Canada for 142 years and offers the broadest range of specialized clinical services in Ontario. Building on the traditions of its founding hospitals to provide compassionate care in an academic teaching setting, London Health Sciences Centre is home to Children’s Hospital, University Hospital, Victoria Hospital, the Kidney Care Centre, two family medical centres, and two research institutes – Children’s Health Research Institute and Lawson Health Research Institute. As a leader in medical discovery and health research, London Health Sciences Centre has a history of over 70 international and national firsts and attracts top clinicians and researchers from around the world. As a regional referral centre, London Health Sciences Centre cares for the most medically complex patients including critically injured adults and children in southwestern Ontario and beyond. The hospital’s nearly 15,000 staff, physicians, students and volunteers provide care for more than one million patient visits a year. For more information visit www.lhsc.on.ca
- 30 –
Laurie Gould is available for media interviews from 10:00 – 11:00 am on Friday, June 16.
For media inquiries contact:
Tori Laird
Corporate Communications and Public Relations
London Health Sciences Centre
519-685-8500, ext. 77127
tori.laird@lhsc.on.ca
After-hours assistance:
Call LHSC Switchboard at 519-685-8500 and ask to page the communication consultant on-call
Visit the LHSC Media web site at www.lhsc.on.ca/media
Like us on Facebook at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), follow us on Twitter @LHSCCanada and watch us on YouTube at LHSCCanada.
