September 12, 2024 (Toronto, ON) – Ontario Health has named Closing the Gap Healthcare and VHA Home HealthCare as the service provider organizations that will provide home care services for eligible clients in East Toronto as part of a new innovative home care project that will test new ways of providing connected care to patients.
Called the Integrated Neighbourhood Home Care Program, the initiative in East Toronto will provide integrated home care services that improve care integration, enhance care coordination, improve patient outcomes and streamline access to necessary home care resources. The program will launch in Taylor-Massey and Thorncliffe Park, two neighbourhoods in East Toronto where people face health inequities and where there are large populations of seniors and community members with chronic and complex health needs.
The Integrated Neighbourhood Home Care Program is developed and delivered by East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP), the Ontario Health Team (OHT) serving East Toronto. ETHP is one of seven OHTs that have been selected to deliver a program of this nature in partnership with Ontario Health and Ontario Health atHome. This is part of the Ontario Government’s plan to modernize home and community care in the province.
As part of the program, Closing the Gap and VHA join several other healthcare, social services and community organizations in East Toronto working together with community members to make home care more reliable and easier to receive. Closing the Gap and VHA will provide home care services in Thorncliffe Park and Taylor-Massey, respectively.
All organizations contributing to the co-design and delivery of the Integrated Neighbourhood Home Care Program are members of ETHP.
Closing the Gap and VHA were selected by ETHP as the successful service providers for the Integrated Neighbourhood Home Care Program through an invitational competitive procurement process facilitated by Ontario Health on behalf of the OHTs. The service provider organizations have been awarded two-year contracts.
ETHP’s Integrated Neighbourhood Home Care Program launches in fall 2024. Learn more at ethp.ca/HomeCareProgram.
Quotes
“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to co-design and deliver the Integrated Neighbourhood Home Care Program in East Toronto. We thank our partners and community members for their collaboration in the development of this program so far and look forward to continuing our work together to provide home care in a more seamless and connected manner that benefits clients, families and providers alike.”
– Dr. Carmine Simone, Executive Sponsor of Integrated Home Care and Transitions Portfolio at East Toronto Health Partners and Vice President, Medical, Strategic Clinical Partnerships and Innovation at Michael Garron Hospital
“We are greatly looking forward to the opportunity to serve the diverse and lively Thorncliffe Park community, a reflection of the vibrant city Toronto is. Through this partnership with East Toronto Health Partners, Closing the Gap will be able to deliver home care in a modernized way: more connected and more seamless, with the goal of improving the experience of clients and families who need our care. Our Team Made for Caring is excited to support community members as we strive to enable them to heal, thrive, and live their best lives, at home.”
– Yiannis Soumalias, Vice President, Partnerships and Business Performance at Closing the Gap
“As a founding anchor partner of East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP), VHA Home HealthCare (VHA) is committed to collaborating with our OHT partners to make care better and more integrated for Taylor-Massey residents and the East Toronto community as part of the Integrated Neighbourhood Home Care Program. We are proud to be informing the future of integrated healthcare that includes accessible and high-quality home care through this leading project.”
– Dr. Kathryn Nichol, President and CEO at VHA Home HealthCare
About East Toronto Health Partners
East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP), the Ontario Health Team (OHT) serving East Toronto, is a group of more than 100 community, primary care, home care, hospital and social services organizations in East Toronto working together build a healthier and more equitable East Toronto – enabling every person and neighbourhood to thrive. Collectively, ETHP is responsible for providing care and support to the 300,000 individuals who live in East Toronto communities, as well as an additional 75,000 clients who choose to receive health care in the local area. Patients/clients, family members and caregivers are partners in every aspect of the development of ETHP, working together to improve the way East Toronto residents access and receive care. Visit ethp.ca to learn more.
About Closing the Gap Healthcare
Closing the Gap Healthcare supports Canadians of all ages in choosing their own pathways to heal, thrive, and live their best lives. We care for people through our holistic, team-based approach. Our teams utilize flexible and integrated models of home and community care. Most importantly, we listen to diverse clients with a range of needs. With regulated healthcare professionals employed at every level of the organization, we ensure a continual focus on quality and excellence in meeting the needs, and promoting the independence and dignity, of our clients. As representatives of the home and community care sector, we are responsive and flexible in providing a full range of client services resulting in higher quality care, improved outcomes and sustainability. We are A Team Made for Caring™. Visit us at closingthegap.ca to learn more.
About VHA Home HealthCare
VHA Home HealthCare (VHA) is one of the largest not-for-profit providers of home care in Ontario. Founded in 1925, VHA is made up of over 3,000 diverse home care specialists including nurses, personal support workers, rehab therapists, home support workers, extreme cleaners, and office support staff. Together, our caring, committed team provides high quality care to vulnerable populations in the communities we serve. VHA invests in research and innovation to make care better for our clients and providers and is committed to working with partners across the healthcare sector to build a more integrated system. In every role and at every level, we lead with purpose, build bonds that matter, and we’re passionate about providing spectacular care. Learn more about VHA Home HealthCare.