Weekly data provided by the Network is proving essential to health system recovery across the GTA.

At the request of Ontario Health Toronto, the Network is collecting and collating data on rehab/CCC bed capacity on a weekly basis. The information is provided to acute care directors of flow and rehab/CCC directors, who meet weekly with Ontario Health Toronto to monitor flow across the system.

The Network began this role in December 2021 as a support to the GTA COVID-19 Incident Management System (IMS) table. The table was managing bed pressure in acute care hospitals during the winter pandemic wave, and the Network was asked to provide real-time data on operational beds, reasons for blocked beds (e.g., outbreak), anticipated admissions/discharges and bed availability two times a week to inform IMS directives. The data was essential: 430 patients were transferred to rehab/CCC in a two-month period to cope with the pandemic surge.

While COVID-19 cases have declined, Ontario Health continues to use the data to monitor system capacity. The real-time data is used by acute care to facilitate the flow of patients who require rehab/CCC as the system focuses on system recovery.

The Network is ideally suited to this role given its knowledge of rehab/CCC, expertise in rehab data and network of contacts throughout the system. Throughout the process, the Network has provided significant quality control, following up with members to ensure submitted data is accurate, standardized and aligned with the Ministry of Health’s definitions for the daily bed census. The data includes blocked/closed beds, available specialty beds and projected bed availability.

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