LHSC Launches Home Health Care Program to Aid Patient Recovery

Patients transitioning from hospital to home often face significant challenges, particularly after extended stays. To address these issues, the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has introduced the LHSC To Home program, which offers personalized care to support recovery.

Elisabeth Hutchison, an 84-year-old patient, exemplifies the impact of this initiative. After being admitted to LHSC in March 2024 for various medical concerns, she spent several months in the hospital before returning home. “I’m a work in progress. I’m getting better. I have been out of hospital, it will be a year tomorrow,” Hutchison stated.

The LHSC To Home program is a collaboration with SE Health, a non-profit organization focused on health services. This program provides up to 16 weeks of tailored home care, facilitating a smoother transition for patients like Hutchison. “I was so happy, but also very much weaker than I anticipated,” she reflected. Hutchison emphasized how crucial the program is for patients who take for granted the structured care they received while hospitalized.

Hutchison’s daughter, Sarah, expressed relief at having her mother back home, stating, “She so needed to be home as part of her recovery. It was incredibly important for her own mental health.” This sentiment underscores the emotional benefits of returning to a familiar environment during recovery.

The LHSC To Home program employs a team of healthcare professionals to create personalized care plans for each patient. Shelby Fisch, Vice President of the Acute Transition Program at SE Health, explained, “Our primary nurse goes in, assesses the patient. We bring in the whole interprofessional team, which includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, personal support workers, social workers, and dietitians.” This comprehensive approach aims to address each patient’s unique needs and promote effective recovery.

Since its inception, the program has successfully assisted 500 patients in its first year alone. According to Tammy Quigley, Vice President of Cancer, Renal, Mental Health and Patient Flow at LHSC, this initiative has significant benefits beyond individual patient care. “Our emergency department wait times can be decreased. It means that ambulances aren’t waiting to offload patients into the emergency department. It means we’re not canceling surgery. It is an absolute game-changer for us,” she noted.

Looking ahead, LHSC aims to expand the program to accommodate an additional 100 patients in the coming year, reflecting the growing demand for home health care services. For patients like Hutchison, the support from this program represents not only medical assistance but also a vital connection to family and home. “My family really turned up for me. But it was nice to be able to get that extra help,” she concluded.

The LHSC To Home program stands as an innovative response to the challenges faced by patients transitioning from hospital to home, highlighting the importance of personalized care in the recovery process.