Role of Care Coordinators in Ontario's Health Care SystemThe Ontario Nurses' Association describes the role of care coordinators in its February 17 letter to Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott. "Care coordinators connect patients and their families with the right health care in a complex system. These nurses and health-care professionals provide a single point of contact for patients to get acute, chronic, mental health, rehabilitation, maintenance, and end of life/palliative care in the home. An in-depth face-to-face assessment process is used to develop a comprehensive and customized patient-focused care plan, including the input of individuals and their families. Assistance is also provided with finding a family doctor, resources for patients and caregivers, and care in schools and community such as assisted-living settings. Care coordinators determine the eligibility for applications, wait list management and admission to long-term care homes. While assisting patient and families, LHIN care coordinators ensure the allocation, accountability, and integrity of our home care system -- holding service providers to the highest standard. In the most challenging of times, families, patients, and communities have depended on care coordinators to divert emergency room visits from over-capacity hospitals and for ongoing reassessments of patient needs, while working with limited resources and a commitment to assisting patients to manage their health care at home."
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