Supporting Patients to go Home First from
Almonte General Hospital
By Carmen Sanchez
Home First is a patient-centred philosophy focused on keeping patients safe in their homes for
as long as possible with community supports. It is part of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term
Care’s Aging at Home Strategy.
With funding from the Small Rural Northern Hospital Transformation Fund, Almonte General
Hospital (AGH) is working with seven other area rural hospitals, the Champlain Local Health
Integration Network (LHIN), and our partners at the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) to
embed this philosophy in our discharge planning processes.
The Home First philosophy is based on the belief that home is the destination of choice for our
patients. Every effort is made to ensure patients return home at the end of a hospital stay.
Planning for long-term care, if it is required, takes place from home rather than the hospital.
Patients and their loved ones are involved with the team in identifying the best options available
to access care within their community.
Patients and families can expect the conversation about discharge to start when they are
admitted.
The multidisciplinary team will collaborate and begin to evaluate the patient’s needs, coordinate
with families as required, and identify referrals for home care or other services within 48 hours
of admission.
Also within the first 48 hours of the hospital stay, a target date for discharge will be determined,
based on the patient’s diagnosis and the care/treatment he or she needs while in hospital.
Education on Home First, related new processes, and the consistent communication required to
support the philosophy will take place across the Hospital with staff and physicians.
The team will work with the CCAC to identify and resolve perceived gaps in community
service that could affect the success of Home First. They will plan for and carry out any
improvements required to incorporate the Home First philosophy into daily practices and patientcentred goals.
By working together with patients, families and our partners in the community, the AGH team
will support as many patients as possible to successfully return home after a hospital stay.
Carmen Sanchez is Acting Assistant Director of Care at Fairview Manor and Manager of the
AGH Rosamond Unit