The Network’s review and analysis of rehab demand and capacity across the GTA is well underway.

To ensure a comprehensive approach, the analysis includes data from a variety of qualitative and quantitative sources to discern referral and admission trends, as well as levels of demand across high-intensity rehab, low-intensity rehab and short/long-term complex medical management programs.

To date, the Network has reviewed referrals sent and received by rehab population and program type, the number of accepted versus denied referrals, and the number of admissions for rehabilitative care.

Key findings include:

  • Overall demand for rehabilitative care remains high, with over 39,000 referrals received in FY 2021/22.
  • Demand is increasing for specialized and low-intensity rehabilitative care. Referral information through the Resource Matching and Referral system showed a 44% increase in low-intensity rehab referrals from 2019/20 to 2021/22.  While there is typically more than one referral submitted on behalf of a single patient, overall the increased need for low-intensity rehab reflects the complexity of patient needs and the increased pressures on patient flow.
  • Low-intensity rehab beds within CCC have gradually increased since 2019/20; however, the number of CCC beds in the GTA decreased by 64 beds during the same period. In addition, approximately 46% of 2021/22 CCC discharged cases were in low-intensity rehab programs. Despite this, the number of low-intensity rehab beds is still not sufficient to fully meet current demand.
  • In 2021/22, inpatient high-intensity rehab discharges among Network members have decreased by 13%. Capacity and utilization have changed post-pandemic and have been influenced by a number of factors, including the pandemic-related surgical ramp down, infection control practices, fewer beds, IMS directives that have changed the path of referrals, and the conversion of rehab beds to acute care beds.

Over the coming weeks, the Network will continue to contextualize these and other findings in collaboration with Ontario Health.  While to date much of the Network’s focus has been on member organizations, work is also underway to address priority issues in cross-border patient flow in and out of the GTA.

In addition, the Network’s Executive Director co-chairs the Ontario Health Toronto ALC Hospital Working Group, which provides advice to Ontario Health Toronto to ensure the successful implementation and optimization of hospital-specific ALC improvement initiatives.

Recommended priority areas for discussion and action include tracheostomy care, access and wait times for low-intensity rehabilitative care, enhanced access to care coordinators for LTC applications and home discharge planning, transportation and health human resources.

For more information, please contact Charissa Levy, Executive Director.