Apr 12, 2010- 2:30 PM
Palkovits, the CEO of St. Joseph’s Health Centre, which administers the facility, said the funding will help the centre meet its $10.2 million per year budget.
The $23 million complex continuing care facility provides care for medically complex patients with chronic conditions, as well as for those who need intensive rehabilitation services.
She said the facility is funded through the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, but this piece of operating funding was still outstanding. The funding is provided through the Ontario government’s Post Construction Operating Plan (PCOP).
This is funding that Jo-Anne can now build into her base funding. She can expect that this $662,200 is going to be there in her budget plans for the next year, the next year, the next year and the next year.
Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci
“It’s very important that we reinforce that. This is funding that Jo-Anne can now build into her base funding. She can expect that this $662,200 is going to be there in her budget plans for the next year, the next year, the next year and the next year.”
The facility, which is attached to St. Joseph’s Villa and located on South Bay Road, opened 32 of its 64 beds in June 2009. The rest were gradually opened as operational funding became available. The facility’s grand opening was held March 26.
Palkovits said the complex continuing care centre is one piece in the puzzle in helping to solve the city’s alternate level of care (ALC) crisis.
ALC patients are those who no longer need an acute care bed in the hospital, but continue to occupy these beds because they cannot find placement within the community.
The 32 beds for the medically complex patients used to be located at Sudbury Regional Hospital. Back in the 1990s, after health services were restructured in Sudbury, it was determined that St. Joseph’s would administer these beds in a new facility.
The other 32 beds at the facility — for those needing intensive rehabilitation services — are new in the system.
Palkovits said the patients receiving rehabilitation at her facility stay between three and six months on average.
“What had happened prior to this was, unfortunately, patients were staying at Sudbury Regional Hospital because there was really nowhere else to go,” she said.
“They did not get those services that would let them get that extra rehabilitation. After the acute phase it would often stop, and oftentimes they would deteriorate back. This allows them to continue to rehabilitate and then exit the health care system.”
Palkovits said her organization is looking into building supportive housing for seniors on South Bay Road, although they haven’t made any steps toward this goal yet.
According to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s website, supportive housing is designed for people who only need minimal to moderate care — such as homemaking or personal care and support – to live independently.
Accommodations usually consist of rental units within an apartment building. In a few cases, the accommodation is a small group residence.
Her organization is currently in the process of building a new long-term-care home in Chelmsford, and recently closed the St. Joseph’s site of Sudbury Regional Hospital, and haven’t had the time or resources to put towards applying for funding to build supportive housing.
“I think there is some interest (in supportive housing) out there,” Palkovits said.
“I think the government does realize that it’s very cost effective, and it’s also the right thing to do. I don’t think that any of us grow up to say ‘I want to die in a long-term care home.’ I think that we all want to be at home...and our goal is to be as independent...for as long as possible.”
