Spreading Sinai Health System’s successful ACE Strategy across Canada
March 31, 2016 (Toronto) – The Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement, in partnership with Canadian Frailty Network, today announced the 18 organizations that will improve healthcare for older adults by adapting Mount Sinai Hospital’s (Toronto) proven Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Strategy in their healthcare facilities.
The ACE Collaborative is based on the Mount Sinai ACE Strategy led by Dr. Samir Sinha, director of geriatrics for the Sinai Health System and a respected clinician and researcher. Seventeen healthcare organizations from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Yukon have been selected, along with an international team based in Iceland.
The CFHI-Canadian Frailty Network partnership is providing each Canadian team with funding of up to $40,000, as well as online learning tools, educational webinars and coaching from experts in elder care and quality improvement. The initiative will support the teams to become experts in healthcare practices that benefit older patients in the communities where they reside.
Mount Sinai Hospital’s ACE Strategy is a seamless model of care for older adults, spanning
the patient care continuum from the emergency department to inpatient, ambulatory and community care settings. Geriatricians, psychiatrists and other physicians as well as nurses, social workers, therapists, pharmacists and dieticians work together to provide coordinated care for older patients. With its ACE Strategy, Mount Sinai has generated sustained results for patients over age 65, including reducing total lengths of stay by 28 percent, lowering readmission rates by 14 percent, and saving the health system $6.7 million in avoidable costs in 2014.
Canada faces a major demographic shift in the coming decades as the number of people aged 65 years and older is expected to double in the next 20 years. The health challenge facing older seniors is more acute, with over one million Canadians now medically frail – a common, yet under-recognized health state where older patients experience chronic illness, multiple health problems and poorer health outcomes.
Although older adults account for 16 percent of Canada’s population, they represent 42 percent of hospitalizations, 58 percent of hospital days and 60 percent of hospital-related expenditures. The ACE Strategy addresses these challenges by ensuring better transitions in care between the hospital and the community, and focusing on providing elder care in the right place at the right time by the right team of providers.
For the full list of teams participating in the ACE collaborative, please visit CFHI’s website.
Download the press release in PDF.
QUOTES
“I am impressed by the success achieved at Mount Sinai Hospital in bringing together a range of providers to improve care for the elderly across the continuum of care. Spreading this proven innovation will allow more Canadians to benefit from this pioneering approach, improving quality of life for elderly patients and their families..”
- Hon. Jane Philpott, federal Minister of Health
“The Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement is pleased to partner with the Canadian Frailty Network to build on the great work that has already been accomplished at Mount Sinai Hospital and to spread this proven innovation in care for older Canadians to other parts of the country.”
- Maureen O’Neil, O.C., President of CFHI
“Canadian Frailty Network is proud to support the ACE Collaborative and pan-Canadian efforts to improve the treatment and care of older Canadians. This initiative is an important step in showcasing healthcare innovation that improves patient care, aids end-of-life planning and comfort, and contributes to a more responsive and efficient healthcare system.”
- Dr. John Muscedere, Scientific Director and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Frailty Network
“I am delighted to share Sinai Health System's approach to addressing the needs of our older patients through this innovative ACE Collaborative. I believe that the 18 healthcare organizations across Canada and Iceland who are partnering with us, will be well equipped to deliver the same outstanding outcomes that we have achieved. Transformative change in healthcare is always fueled by strong partnerships committed to improving outcomes and I am deeply proud of being able to be part of this effort. I hope that eventually, all older Canadians will feel the impact of this work.”
- Samir K. Sinha, MD, DPhil, FRCPC, Director of Geriatrics, Sinai Health System and the University Health Network Hospitals, Toronto
About CFHI:
The Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement identifies proven innovations and accelerates their spread across Canada, improving patient care, the health of Canadians and value-for-money. These innovations could save provincial-territorial healthcare budgets over $1 billion per year. CFHI is a not-for-profit organization funded by Health Canada. Visit www.cfhi-fcass.ca for more information.
About Canadian Frailty Network :
Canadian Frailty Network (known previously as Technology Evaluation in the Elderly Network, TVN) is Canada’s network for frail elderly and late-life care solutions. We support original research, and train the next generation of health care professionals and scientists to improve outcomes for elderly Canadians across all settings of care. Recognizing they may be nearing the end of life, we are dedicated to improving advance care planning and end-of-life care.
About Mount Sinai Hospital :
Mount Sinai Hospital, part of Sinai Health System, is an internationally recognized 442-bed acute care academic health sciences centre affiliated with the University of Toronto. Clinical strengths include women’s and infants’ health, chronic disease management, specialized cancer care, emergency medicine and geriatrics. Mount Sinai has been designated with Exemplary Status from Accreditation Canada and every aspect of patient care is anchored in a rigorous quality plan and monitoring of safety and quality goals. Mount Sinai was recently named the first hospital in Canada to receive Magnet® status for nursing excellence and patient care. The Hospital is considered to be a top employer in Canada, receiving multiple awards for its employment and culture-centred programs.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Joel Baglole
Senior Communications Specialist
Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement
613-797-6481
[email protected]
Denis Abbott, APR
Manager: Knowledge Mobilization and Communications
Canadian Frailty Network
613-549-6666, ext. 6209
[email protected]
