Please note: As of Spring 2024 the Sinai Health Foundation Funding portal will be shut down. If you require information about available funds, please reach out to jody.rathgeber@sinaihealthfoundation.ca.
This section provides fundraising status reports from Sinai Health Foundation. It requires a username and password.
]]>
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
joel.baglole@cfhi-fcass.ca
Denis Abbott, APR
Manager: Knowledge Mobilization and Communications
Canadian Frailty Network
613-549-6666, ext. 6209
denis@cfn-nce.ca
As the population ages, many Canadians are wondering how it will impact their lives and health-care system. With baby boomers now turning 65, and the elder population set to double in 20 years, many significant questions are emerging. Considered a national leader in care for seniors, Mount Sinai was the first hospital in Canada to make Senior Care a core strategic priority. Now, a new series is being offered to help our community understand the implications and impact of an aging population.
In partnership with Ryerson University’s G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education and the LIFE Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital’s Healthy Ageing and Geriatrics Program is proud to present Celebrating LIFE and Our Coming of Age, a series of five presentations on ageing and health care. The series, hosted on the Ryerson campus in downtown Toronto, is open to the public: tickets can be purchased for just $10 per session here or by contacting Stephanie Callen at 416-586-4800 ext. 7674.
The series will feature two Mount Sinai physicians:
According to Dr. Sinha, this series will provide valuable and practical information to participants.
“Celebrating Life and Our Coming of Age is a five-part healthy ageing education series that will promote public awareness on topics important to everyone as we age. Attendees should come away with valuable tips and insights essential to staying active and independent in one’s later years,” he says.
More details on each of the presentations are below. We hope to see you there!
Dr. Samir Sinha shares his top 10 tips on how to live a healthy life
Mount Sinai’s Dr. Samir Sinha shares 10 Myths and Realities about Aging
Toronto’s Coming of Age: How Ready is Our City to Meet the Needs of Ageing Torontonians?
February 28, 2015
Dr. Sinha will discuss the recent work that led to the creation of Toronto’s Seniors Strategy, and what it will take to ensure our city, province, and country are ready to meet our coming of age. Dr. Sinha will provide insights on what it will take to become a truly age-friendly city.
Speaker: Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics for Mount Sinai Hospital and University Health Network Hospitals and the Provincial Lead for Ontario’s Seniors Strategy
A passionate advocate for the needs of older persons, Dr. Sinha is the Director of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital and the University Health Network Hospitals in Toronto. In 2012, he was appointed by the Government of Ontario to serve as the provincial lead of the Ontario’s Seniors Strategy. Dr. Sinha’s breadth of international training and expertise in health policy and the delivery of services related to the care of the elderly have made him a highly regarded expert in the care of older adults.
There is a Robot that Will Care for Me? How Technology Can Support our Ageing Population
March 28, 2015
This session will focus on technology advances that are being developed in Toronto that can be used to keep older adults in their homes longer while staying safe, active, and able to fulfil responsibilities. Dr. Fernie will highlight the revolution of technology that has changed the way we provide health care to older adults.
Speaker: Dr. Geoff Fernie, Director, Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (TRI)
Dr. Geoff Fernie is a professional engineer and the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute’s Research Director at the University Health Network He has a primary appointment at the University of Toronto as Professor in the Department of Surgery with cross appointments that include the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Department of Physical Therapy and Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. Dr. Fernie is recognized as a world leader in the application of engineering to create solutions for problems commonly encountered by people with disabilities and has been responsible for the development of many products that help our ageing population continue to live independently in their own homes.
The Doctor Will See You Now...at Home
April 25, 2015
As the number of older Canadians climbs, so too will the ranks of older adults who become housebound and not able to access traditional office-based care. Dr. Nowaczynski, the founder of Toronto’s House Calls Program, and a gifted photographer and storyteller, explores the recent resurgence in the provision of house calls in Toronto through a photodocumentary that may provide you a telling glimpse into your future.
Speaker: Dr. Mark Nowaczynski, Clinical Director, House Calls Program
Dr. Mark Nowaczynski began practicing family medicine in 1992. The home-based care of frail seniors grew to become his primary clinical interest, and he closed his office practice in 2007 to make house calls full-time. He is the Clinical Director of the House Calls Program that provides interdisciplinary primary health care for homebound Torontonians and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. Mark’s interest in photography led to him capturing the hidden world of his home-bound patients. This work culminated into an exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum in 2010, entitled “House Calls with My Camera” as well as in the Gemini Award winning National Film Board of Canada documentary film “House Calls”.
You Could Live a Long Life: Are You Ready?
May 9, 2015
The elderly population is living longer than ever before. That is a good thing, right? In this session, Author Lyndsay Green offers practical advice that she has garnered from her research on how you can prepare for your so-called golden years now, so that you get as much satisfaction as possible from what may well be a long life.
Speaker: Lyndsay Green, Sociologist and Author
Lyndsay Green is a best-selling author who has focused her writing on advising the baby boomers on how to age well. Trained as a sociologist, when Green turned 60, she turned her research skills and knowledge of new technologies to understanding aging. Her books include the best-selling You Could Live a Long Time: Are You Ready? and The Perfect Home For a Long Life. Green is currently working on a book about men and retirement, for release by HarperCollins in 2016.
How, Where, and When Would YOU Like to Die?
June 20, 2015
When it comes to end-of-life planning, the decisions involved can be overwhelming. In this session, Dr. Steinberg highlights the importance of advance thinking and planning surrounding end-of-life decisions, asking how, where, and when would you like to die? She will also review options available to all of us when we are dying.
Speaker: Dr. Leah Steinberg, Clinical Lead, Palliative Care Consult Team, Mount Sinai Hospital
Dr. Leah Steinberg trained as a family physician and for the past 14 years has practiced in palliative medicine. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and teaches palliative medicine to all levels of learning. She has a special interest in communication skills with patients. She is currently serving as the lead for the In-Hospital Care Program with the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care at Mount Sinai Hospital.
]]>DAY 1
Dr. Dov Gandell - Top Articles 2014
Dr. Samir Sinha - Now What How to Break the Diagnosis of Dementia and Develop a Practical Plan of Care
Dr. Lesley Wiesenfeld - Treatment Updates in Anxiety, Mood and Psychotic Disorders in the Elderly and Tips for Starting and Stopping Psychotropic Medications
Dr. Andrew Morris - An Approach to Appropriate Antibiotic Prescribing in Outpatient and LTC Settings
Dr. Arielle Berger and Dr. Vicky Chau - Update on Assessing and Managing the Falling Patient and the Use of Gait Aid Devices in the Community
Dr. Sunil Sinha - Syncope in the Elderly Pathophysiology, Diagnosis & Investigation
Dr. Barry Goldlist - Hypertension in the Elderly A Balanced Approach
DAY 2
Dr. Meyer Balter - To Air is Human, To Not Wheeze Divine; Obstructive Lung Diseases in the Elderly
Dr. Kevin Woo - What’s New in Wound Management?
Dr. Leah Steinberg - Advanced Care Planning De-Medicalizing the Conversation to Help Patients and Families Make Decisions and Plans
Dr. Mark Yaffe - Navigating Elder Abuse Issues in Your Practice
Jean Beeho - Identifying and Managing Common Foot Conditions in the Elderly
]]>Dr. Samir Sinha, Mount Sinai’s Director of Geriatrics with a patient
Canadian business and community leaders Peter and Shelagh Godsoe have made a $3.5 million investment in geriatric care, a clinical area in which Mount Sinai Hospital has taken a national leadership role. With Canada’s older population expected to double in the next 20 years, this generous gift will further the hospital’s unique strategic priority of meeting the specialized and growing needs of older patients and help advance healthy ageing and geriatric care throughout Canada.
Mr. Godsoe, the former Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Bank of Nova Scotia and inductee into Canada’s Business Hall of Fame, and Mrs. Godsoe, will support an endowed Chair in Geriatrics, with funds directed to clinical care, research and innovative geriatric programs. The endowed Chair position will be held by Dr. Samir Sinha, Mount Sinai’s Director of Geriatrics.
Mount Sinai’s Acute Care for Elders (ACE) strategy, developed by Dr. Sinha, is considered a leading practice in Canada. ACE is delivering dramatically better patient outcomes, including a reduction in length of hospital stay by 17%. In 2012, Dr. Sinha was asked by the provincial government to create Ontario’s Seniors Strategy. He routinely consults with clinicians, hospitals, political leaders and community groups across the country and internationally on creating better access to quality health care for older patients.
This gift is part of Mount Sinai’s $500 million Campaign to Renew Sinai, the largest fundraising campaign in the hospital’s history, that will fund the transformation of its facilities and growth of many of its internationally-recognized clinical and research programs.
Quotes:
“We are very pleased to support the leadership and vision for better health care for seniors that Mount Sinai is championing. Being part of the solution is truly inspiring.” Peter and Shelagh Godsoe, Philanthropists.
“With Canadians living longer than ever before, leadership and expertise around healthy ageing and geriatrics has never been more important. This generous gift will enable us to do more for those patients who often represent the most complex and frequent users of our health care system.” Dr. Samir Sinha, Director, Geriatrics, Mount Sinai Hospital.
“I am incredibly proud of the impact that our clinical leadership has had in shaping the health-care experience for older patients in this province and across the country. This gift allows us to build on that success and provide our patients with even better care and services.” Joseph Mapa, President and CEO, Mount Sinai Hospital.
“Peter Godsoe has been a tremendous leader as a member of our Board of Directors and has been a role model in visionary leadership in our country. We are grateful for his acknowledgement of our leadership and this generous investment into such an important area of care.” Jay Hennick, Chair, Mount Sinai Hospital Board of Directors.
“Our Campaign to Renew Sinai would not be possible without the outstanding support of our community leaders stepping forward with unwavering support for transformative approaches to health care. Peter and Shelagh’s support is incredibly meaningful to us – not only because of their generosity, but because of their commitment to ensuring the very best patient care.” Brent Belzberg, Chairman, Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation Management Board & Governing Council
]]>Dr. Samir Sinha reviews his patient’s care plan with his team in Mount Sinai’s Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Unit, which offers frail older adults customized care in an elder friendly environment (Photo: Kevin Kelly)
Older adults (age 65+) make up 60 per cent of patients in Canadian hospitals. They also consume nearly half of public spending on healthcare as they often face multiple health issues and need more complex types of health services including hospital care where their complexity often requires longer hospital stays too. More time that is spent in hospitals also puts this group at an increased risk of developing further complications, such as immobility and delirium, as well as their likelihood of returning to hospital and perhaps not even returning home. “As our population ages, acute care hospitals need to transform how they resource, organize, and deliver care for older adults so that they can get better quicker and return to their homes safely with the right supports in place,” says Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital.
As part of Mount Sinai’s ongoing efforts to improve the way care is delivered to older patients, Mount Sinai has become Canada’s first hospital to launch ACE Tracker, a new computer program that will improve the way clinicians are able to identify and care for this high-risk group.
Instead of reviewing patient charts one-by-one, within minutes the ACE Tracker software identifies all patients in the hospital who are 65 years old and older and scans each patient’s record for common health vulnerabilities that older adults face. The program’s comprehensive checklist includes scanning for high-risk issues such as pain, history of falls, functional loss, cognitive impairments, length of stay and medication. ACE Tracker then assembles all relevant data into reports that present all the issues on a single line for each patient. The reports are generated in real-time and can be done for any unit of the hospital. “ACE Tracker allows any practitioner to understand health risks of their older patients so that they can better customize treatment plans and improve the quality of care their older patients receive,” says Rebecca Ramsden the ACE Unit’s Nurse Practitioner.
ACE Tracker is just another example of how Mount Sinai has been developing and integrating new approaches to address the growing health care needs of an aging population. In 2010 Mount Sinai launched its Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Strategy to ensure caring for older patients is maximized with an inter-professional, team-based approach, no matter where patients are cared for across the continuum, such as in the emergency department, in a hospital unit or at home. Much of this collaborative work has been facilitated through the development of innovative IT communication tools and hospital protocols that encourage mobility and promotes independence.
As a result of Mount Sinai’s innovative elder friendly approaches the hospital has seen dramatic improvements in its lengths of stay, overall quality of care and patient satisfaction levels for its older patients. These initiatives have also saved the hospital and health care system millions of dollars each year, mainly through achieving 28 per cent reduction in the overall lengths of hospital stays for those 65+. In building on these successes, Dr. Sinha believes that “ACE Tracker will be another tool that can be used by all members of our inter-professional teams to look at patients through a geriatric lens more quickly and efficiently and help improve outcomes for this vulnerable group.”
]]>
TORONTO, Nov. 6, 2013 /CNW/ - Released today in partnership with Mount Sinai Hospital, the eighth DiverseCity Counts report looks at the diversity of the GTA's health care leaders. While past Counts reports have focused solely on visible minorities, "A Snapshot of Diverse Leadership in the Health Care Sector" broadens the scope of diversity to include sex/gender identity, visible minorities, disability, and sexual orientation.
"It matters that leaders in the health care sector are diverse," says report author Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics, Mount Sinai Hospital and the University Health Network Hospitals. "Senior management teams and governance boards in health care institutions play a critical role in setting mandates and priorities, and shaping services to help meet the needs of patients and employees. It is this leadership, for example, that has the influence and authority to recognize and acknowledge needs, approve systemic changes, and prioritize and commit the resources necessary to respond."
Key findings are:
Dr. Sinha, Director of Geriatrics, Mount Sinai Hospital & author of report
"In Canada, we place an enormous trust in our health care system," says Ratna Omidvar, President of Maytree, and Co-chair of DiverseCity. "But with this trust comes responsibility. The responsibility to recognize the needs of and serve all patients equitably and respectfully. The responsibility to reflect the community throughout the ranks of the institution. The responsibility to include the community in decision-making and governance. That is why we call for diverse leadership in all of our institutions."
This latest DiverseCity Counts report is only a snapshot and does not examine all of the efforts or progress made by the health care sector to diversify their leadership.
"We know that leading health care institutions are committed to diversity in leadership and are taking action to make it happen," says John Tory, Chair of CivicAction and Co-Chair of DiverseCity. "However, in the health care sector overall, it is safe to say that more work remains to be done."
DiverseCity Counts is an initiative of DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project, a project of Maytree and the Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance (CivicAction), funded in part by the government of Ontario. Since 2009, the DiverseCity Counts reports have analyzed visible minority representation in leadership across the GTA.
SOURCE Maytree Foundation
]]>
“Today’s older adults are living longer and better than ever before. What I hear from my patients and our younger generations is their desire to stay active and contribute to society in various ways as they get older.”
- Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital and Provincial Lead, Ontario’s Seniors Strategy
Dr. Sinha’s top 10 tips to live a longer and healthier life:
1. Eat breakfast
2. Eat fruits and vegetables daily
3. Keep your weight under control
4. Exercise regularly
5. Don’t smoke
6. Limit your alcohol consumption
7. Establish your own sense of purpose
8. Participate in meaningful social activities regularly
9. Take time to relieve stress
10. Get a good night’s sleep
“While many of us don’t want to admit it, aging is a fact of life that beings at birth. How we age is impacted by a number of factors such as biology, physiology and our social circumstances and varies from person to person.”
- Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital and Provincial Lead, Ontario’s Seniors Strategy
Dr. Samir Sinha talks to Mr. W, one of his house calls patients who lives independently at age 103
Myth vs. Reality: The majority of people over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s disease?
Answer: Myth – Less than 10% of adults over age 65 suffer from dementia, although the chance we might have a dementia increases as we age.
Myth vs. Reality: It is very difficult for older adults to learn new things.
Answer: Myth – While it may take an older adult longer to learn something than a younger person, older adults are very capable of learning new things.
Myth vs. Reality: Memory loss is a normal part of aging.
Answer: Reality – While some memory loss is a normal part of aging, dementia is not. An older person’s short-term memory is usually impacted more than their long-term memory.
Myth vs. Reality: Depression occurs more frequently in older adults than in young adults.
Answer: Myth – Approximately 10% of the population across all ages suffers from depression.
Myth vs. Reality: A person’s risk of developing high blood pressure increases with age.
Answer: Reality – As someone ages, their blood vessels get built up with cholesterol and calcium called ‘plaque’, making the vessels harder which make our heart work harder to raise our blood pressure to pump blood around the body.
Myth vs. Reality: As people live longer, they in fact suffer less from acute health conditions.
Answer: Reality – Older adults tend to suffer from more chronic health conditions, which can flare up in acute ways, resulting in doctor and hospital visits.
Myth vs. Reality: Older adults are less anxious about death than are younger adults.
Answer: Reality – Older adults tend to be less anxious about death because they feel like they have lived a long life and have accomplished many things.
Myth vs. Reality: Most older people are living in nursing homes.
Answer: Myth – Only about 5% of older people will ever live in long-term care homes, the rest will live in retirement homes or in their own homes.
Myth vs. Reality: People 65 years of age and older currently make up about 25% of the Canadian population.
Answer: Myth - Today, older adults represent about 15% of our population but their numbers are expected to double in numbers over the next 20 years.
Myth vs. Reality: Personality changes with age.
Answer: Myth – Some personality traits may become more pronounced (i.e. if someone was stubborn as a child, they might be more stubborn as an older adult) but our personality doesn’t fundamentally change as we age.
]]>