A new program billed as the “first and only one of its kind in Ontario” is providing wraparound medical services to homebound seniors in Markham and Stouffville.
The Seniors Home Support (SHS) Program, launched by the Eastern York Region North Durham (EYRND) and Ontario Health Team (OHT), is delivered by an inter-professional team to seniors unable to access office-based primary care services because of medical, social or cognitive reasons.
Patients will receive services from a team comprised of primary care physicians, a nurse practitioner, pharmacist, social worker, chiropodist and an occupational therapist. Care will be delivered in a number of ways, including home visits, phone calls and virtual support via the Ontario Telemedicine Network.
All program partners will have access to one electronic medical record.
“One of the many unique benefits of the SHS Program is having a single medical record that will allow patients to only tell their story once with their health care providers sharing information between each other. This allows for patients to receive connected, seamless, people-centred care,” says Dr. Emilie Lam, family physician and chair of the Primary Care Advisory Council for the EYRND OHT.
Home care services are provided to patients enrolled in the SHS Program by partner organizations, including Markham Family Health Team, Markham Stouffville Hospital, South East Geriatric Outreach Team of the New Unionville Home Society, Central Region Home and Community Support Services and York Region Paramedic Services Community Paramedicine Program.
To be eligible for the SHS Program, seniors must be aged 65 years or older, have a valid OHIP card and must need a primary care practitioner. A member of the Geriatric Outreach team will conduct a detailed assessment to evaluate a patient’s eligibility criteria.
To learn more about how to enrol in the program, contact Rebecca Briggs at [email protected] or 905-471-9999, ext. 456 or visit eyrnd.ca/community-partners/seniors-home-support.
