A new patient-based funding model from Alberta Health Services (AHS) hopes to even out the level of service patients receive.
This new program was developed three years ago for patients and now long-term care residents will experience it on March 1.
As a patient needs more care, their financial support will increase, explained Dave O’Brien, senior vice-president of primary and community care.
Patient-based funding was used before AHS, he said. “It’s not unlike how some of our funding methodologies have been managed in the past. Having said that, since 1995 the reality is we’ve developed a whole host of different ways of funding long-term care.”
Some of those methods were not equitable and the province had mixed standards of care being provided. Any funding AHS provides also means it is responsible to ensure residents meet the same standard of care.
“So that we can really drive that equity and consistency,” said O’Brien.
With learning comes experience and O’Brien believes providers will continue to adapt and make adjustments to the model. Another reason why AHS is implementing patient-based funding as quickly as possible is to learn from any mistakes, he said.
He does not have specific details on how the program affects private institutions such as Northcott Care Centre and Sunrise Village but the intention is a “fair and equitable” funding model. Approximately three years ago AHS reviewed more than 170 sites in Alberta and how their services were applied.
“Not surprisingly some sites we found were under-funded, i.e. they were not given enough funding,” stated O’Brien.
Approximately $16 million in the past two years was injected into these sites while over-funded sites are seeing a decrease over a 6 1/2 year period. The funding model change could possibly have affected Ponoka as well, he said.
One of the biggest challenges he sees with longterm care is ensuring the proper health care delivery goes to the proper recipients. “And I don’t think we’re necessarily set up to do that yet. We’re doing a lot of work to get there.”
The key in dealing with long-term care needs is increasing capacity and keeping patients as close to home as possible, he added. The other challenge is keeping patients out of emergency rooms and acute care if possible but O’Brien feels they have seen some improvement.
Home care budgets have grown and more than 2,500 continuing care beds have opened in Alberta in the last three years with another 1,000 planned for the next two years. “That is incredible growth.”
He feels the extra expense it worth the investment as patients see a better quality of life.
The Rimoka Housing Foundation has had vacant rooms for some months and O’Brien was asked how AHS works with lodges.
Usually if a senior citizen needs extra care outside of a lodge’s capabilities then a move to supportive living care is needed. O’Brien feels it is frustrating for families involved. New developments with AHS have helped fund some lodges to keep seniors as long as possible.
“We are working with our lodge providers so that we can help to provide them with resources or funding. So as the care needs of their residents increase they can keep them there,” explained O’Brien. “So that they can stay there perhaps forever but as long as possible.”
Not all lodges take funding from AHS, said O’Brien. It is a decision lodges have to make before working with AHS. “We’re certainly open and willing to work with lodges wherever we can.”
Lodges such as the one proposed for Rimbey could see residents with different needs and O’Brien believes more discussion is requires to determine clients’ needs. He has worked with the ministries of municipal affairs and health to bring more “care and supports to individuals where they are.”
“So that they get right care in the right place and it’s actually the place they want to be,” he stated.
He believes a multi-disciplinary team can provide better care and he suggests other agencies should be involved as well.