Ontario Expands Diagnostic Services in York Region Long-Term Care Homes to Reduce Hospital Visits
Newmarket, ON — In a bid to enhance the quality of care for seniors and reduce strain on hospitals, the Ontario government is investing in two key programs in York Region that will expand diagnostic services within long-term care homes. The initiative aims to curb unnecessary hospital and emergency room visits by providing timely care on-site.
The newly introduced Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care Plus (CPLTC+) program will be rolled out across nine long-term care homes in York Region. Building on the foundation of the existing Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program, CPLTC+ empowers community paramedics to deliver critical diagnostic services such as bloodwork, ultrasound, and urinalysis directly within the homes. This initiative is expected to significantly enhance the capacity of long-term care homes to manage residents’ health issues in-house.
Ontario’s Minister of Long-Term Care, Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, highlighted the program’s importance, stating, “We are investing in diagnostic care so seniors can receive the right care in the right place. This funding will help long-term care residents access care in their own homes and help reduce avoidable hospital visits and 911 calls.”
In addition to CPLTC+, the Ontario government is also injecting $6 million provincewide to extend the Equipment and Training Fund for the 2024-25 fiscal year. First launched in October 2023 as part of the Your Health Plan, this fund supports long-term care homes in acquiring diagnostic equipment and training their staff. The focus is on preventing conditions that frequently lead to hospital admissions, such as urinary tract infections, falls, pneumonia, and congestive heart failure.
York Region has already seen the benefits of this fund. Simcoe Manor Home for the Aged in Beeton used the funding to purchase a bladder scanner, urinalysis analyzer, and cameras to support virtual health services. Similarly, Mackenzie Health Long-Term Care Facility in Richmond Hill acquired a Doppler and electrocardiogram machine, alongside staff training, to better diagnose and manage congestive heart failure. The Mon Sheong Richmond Hill Long-Term Care Centre also invested in a bladder scanner, urinalysis analyzer, and oximeter to enhance care for residents.
The Ontario government’s broader strategy to reform long-term care is built around four key pillars: improving staffing and care, enhancing quality and enforcement, constructing modern, safe, and comfortable homes, and providing seniors with faster, more convenient access to necessary services.
As the province continues to implement these programs, the goal is clear: to ensure that Ontario’s seniors receive the care and quality of life they deserve within their communities, reducing the need for hospital visits and allowing them to age with dignity.
GTA Today will continue to follow this story as the province’s initiatives roll out across York Region.
