Lessons from Long-Term Care Home Partners during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Rapid response to a quickly evolving pandemic was critical to keep residents and those who provide care in long-term care (LTC) safe. Two Ontario-based LTC homes, Perley Health and peopleCare Communities, share key aspects of their pandemic response that left both homes well positioned to partner in the Strengthening Pandemic Preparedness in Long-Term Care rapid response research program (HEC 2022a). To share lessons learned and generate evidence around practical solutions to mitigate future outbreaks, Perley Health and peopleCare Communities identify key considerations to enhance quality of care and quality of life for LTC residents now and in the future.

Establishing an integrated model of subacute care for the frail elderly.

The current health system in Ontario is not designed to meet the needs of frail older adults. This is particularly true for older adults hospitalized due to exacerbation of chronic illness or medical crisis. This article describes the Subacute Care Unit for the Frail Elderly (SAFE) program, one which is designed to serve frail older patients who are at risk of deconditioning or disability associated with prolonged hospitalization but who may safely return home or to a retirement home following up to 4 weeks of subacute care in a restorative environment. The program centres on an intense restorative and integrated care delivery model. The patient population is medically complex, requiring medical supervision and regular adjustment to the care plan to optimize medical status. Individuals are no longer acutely ill and are considered stable or stabilizing. Care and services are designed to improve outcomes for hospitalized frail older adults by proactively addressing the conditions that contribute to alternate level of care before the deconditioning associated with prolonged hospitalization is experienced.

¿Es el mejoramiento de la calidad un punto de confluencia para la educación en salud pública en las Américas? / Is quality enhancement a focal point for the public health education in the Americas ?

Este documento presenta un panorama general sobre el mejoramiento de la calidad y se ocupa de temas vinculados con la educación universitaria que podrían ser instructivos para sus programas de salud pública. Para beneficio de los lectores, primero intentamos ubicar el tema del mejoramiento de la calidad en el contexto apropiado y demostrar su pertinencia. A continuación, se describe su alcance y principales características, así como los valores asociados con ella. Luego se analizan las principales dificultades que surgen al intentar establecer una estrategia para este fin, y se exponen las posibles maneras de superarlas. Finalmente, tratamos de extraer las principales consecuencias que el mejoramiento de la calidad tiene para las instituciones de educación en salud pública (IESP) de las Américas, en especial la necesidad de una colaboración más estrecha entre los distintos programas de salud pública