Bed Matching
Best Practices Day
E-Stroke Rehab Referral
LIFEspan Transition Program Evaluation
Medically Complex Hip Fracture
Outpatient Rehabilitation
Pandemic Flu Planning for Rehab/CCC
Patient Flow
Standardized Rehab Definitions

The GTA Rehab Network is a leader in improving the planning and delivery of rehab care. Current initiatives are focused on:

• improving access to, and quality of, rehabilitation services;
• leading the development and application of measures for rehabilitation system; planning and performance management; and
• promoting best practice and enhancing knowledge exchange.

Initiatives reflect the needs and priorities of Network members and rely on their extensive expertise and experience.

Highlights include:

The Network's annual Best Practices Day facilitates knowledge transfer by bringing together clinicians, researchers and administrators from across the rehab sector to hear the latest developments in research and practice and provide an opportunity for dialogue and debate. Details and presentations from past events are available here.

E-Stroke Rehab Referral

The Network manages the electronic rehab referral system on behalf of the three Toronto-area Stroke Networks. The system supports efficient referrals for stroke patients between all acute care and rehab hospitals in Toronto. It also tracks demand, wait times, response times and other indicators in order to measure and evaluate access and system efficiency.

LIFEspan Transition Program Evaluation

The LIFEspan Transition Program is a partnership between Bloorview Kids Rehab and Toronto Rehab Institute that provides a coordinated transfer of care for young adults transitioning into the community and into the adult health care system. The Network is conducting a process evaluation of the LIFEspan transition service model on behalf of the Toronto Central LHIN in order to inform potential process improvements within LIFEspan as well as to apply learnings to other populations as appropriate.

Medically Complex Hip Fracture

Hip fracture is a common, serious injury that often results in extended hospitalizations and a loss of mobility. Despite focused attention in recent years, medically complex hip fracture patients continue to face delays transitioning from acute care to rehabilitation. The Network is leading an initiative to increase timely access to post-acute rehab for medically complex patients, beginning with hip fracture patients. The initiative will also confirm and implement evidence-based clinical care practices and guidelines to support quality of care and improve outcomes.

Outpatient Rehabilitation

Outpatient rehab services are a critical component of the rehabilitation continuum. However, the lack of a common approach to tracking and assessing performance limits advocacy and planning within programs and across the system. The Network is gathering data to better understand and quantify hospital-based, publicly-funded outpatient rehabilitation and articulate the role that these services play in supporting patient flow.

Pandemic Flu Planning for Rehab/CCC

Health care organizations across the country have been active in pandemic planning in preparation for a potential H1N1 pandemic. On the request of the Toronto Central LHIN, the Network is working with rehab and complex continuing care hospitals to develop common pandemic planning guidelines, coordinate communications and share expertise amongst that sector.

Patient Flow

The Toronto Central LHIN's electronic resource matching and referral (RM&R) system facilitates referrals across acute care, rehabilitation, complex continuing care (CCC) and long-term care. As a result, the system is a rich resource of detailed data such as referral volumes, referral responses, timelines and reasons for denied referrals. The Network is using this data to identify issues and make recommendations on processes, policies and other issues to enhance patient flow in the TC LHIN.

Standardized Rehab Definitions

Rehab is now being delivered in a wide variety of settings, including complex continuing care. Clear definitions and standards of practice for rehab programs are needed to provide clarity for patients, families and referring professionals and to ensure consistent quality of patient care.