Stan Cho Sceen Capture via Government of Ontario Announcement Youtube

The Ontario government has announced it is investing nearly $10 million to help long-term care homes offer residents more diagnostic services onsite, instead of traveling to a hospital.

“By connecting residents to faster and more convenient diagnostic services, we are helping connect residents to the care they need, when and where they need it,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Long-Term Care. “This will help to reduce avoidable emergency department visits and hospital stays, increase the services available at long-term care homes, and improve residents’ quality of life.”

Ontario also announced it is increasing residents’ access to routine and urgent laboratory services such as blood work, by increasing reimbursements to long-term care homes that utilize mobile community lab services.

Later this fall, Ontario will significantly expand the Nurse-Led Outreach Teams program into additional long-term care homes in underserved areas of the province.