Healthcare integration: the study of the toronto central regional hospice palliative care "system" and its integration challenges

Siu Mee Cheng; S Lawrence Librach; Ray Berry; Sandy Sandy BuchmanBuchman

doi:10.12927/hcq.2013.22003

Healthcare integration: the study of the toronto central regional hospice palliative care "system" and its integration challenges

Healthc Q. 2010;13(4):78-83. doi: 10.12927/hcq.2013.22003.

Authors

Siu Mee Cheng¹, S Lawrence Librach², Ray Berry³, Sandy Sandy BuchmanBuchman⁴

Affiliations

¹ MHSc, BASc, CHE, is with the Toronto Central Palliative Care Network, in Toronto, Ontario. She can be contacted by phone at 416-910-9943 or by e-mail at scheng@tpcn.ca.
² MD, CCFP, FCFP, is with the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, and the University of Toronto, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Division of Palliative Care. He can be contacted by phone at 416-586-4800, ext. 6773, or by e-mail at larry.librach@utoronto.ca.
³ BSc, MD, CCFP, FCFP, ABHPM, is with the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, in Toronto, Ontario, and the University of Toronto, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Division of Palliative Care. He can be contacted by phone at 416-533-2828 or by e-mail at Berry.Ray@TorontoRehab.on.ca.
⁴ BA, MD, CCFP, FCFP, is with the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Cancer Care Ontario and the University of Toronto, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Division of Palliative Care. He can be reached by phone at 416-586-4800, ext. 1537, or by e-mail at sandy.buchman@tlcpc.org.

PMID: 24953814
DOI: 10.12927/hcq.2013.22003

Abstract

The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's End-of-Life strategy did not result in integrated hospice palliative care (HPC) systems. Consequently, HPC has evolved differently across the 14 local health integration networks. In the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network, the HPC sector lacks foundational systems integration elements: infrastructure and tools that can ensure optimal access and delivery; centralized data capture and management resources to support delivery and planning; and central planning and performance authority that will further improvements in systems delivery, planning and accountability. The sector has been able to function because of inter-organizational initiatives and system linkage tools.

MeSH terms

Hospices / organization & administration*
Hospices / standards
Humans
Ontario
Palliative Care / organization & administration*
Palliative Care / standards
Quality Assurance, Health Care