The Network has completed an analysis of patient transfers ordered by the GTA COVID-19 Incident Management System (IMS) table to determine the impact of the transfers on the Network’s rehab/CCC members.

During the pandemic, rehab/CCC hospitals are accepting patient transfers as directed in order to maintain acute care capacity for COVID-19 patients. To determine the impact on rehab/CCC hospitals, the Network analyzed Ontario Health post-acute care data surveys for the period mid-April to mid-May. The analysis looked at the impact of these transfers on regular, planned post-acute admissions and ALC volume. A three-question qualitative survey was also sent to rehab/CCC directors to gather context for the analysis.

The Network analyzed the data for eight organizations which had a total of 2,180 reported beds. Key findings across the participating organizations included:

  • Rehab/CCC received more than 250 IMS-directed admissions from mid-April to mid-May.
  • IMS-directed admissions represented 5% to 40% of total rehab/CCC admissions in those organizations for the reported dates.
  • 3% to 5% (62-109 beds) were blocked operationally due to outbreaks, isolation protocol, staffing shortages, etc.
  • The proportion of ALC cases gradually decreased from 11% to 9% by the end of the one-month analysis. This decrease may be due to government approval of hospital patients moving back to long-term care homes or retirement homes during that period.
  • IMS-directed admissions were generally clinically appropriate for rehab/CCC. The hospitals expanded admission criteria to meet the needs of the system and admitted patients who were more medically complex. Patients designated ALC shortly after admission had expedited access to long-term care, which became key to patient flow across the system.

For more information, please contact Sharon Ocampo-Chan, Project Manager.