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Rehab Definitions Initiative
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The Toronto ABI Network is collaborating with the GTA Rehab Network in a major initiative to standardize the core components of publicly-funded rehabilitation across the care continuum.
The Rehab Definitions Initiative, which began last year, has strong participation from across the Toronto ABI Network membership and endorsement from the ABI Advisory Committee. The initiative was undertaken in response to consistent stakeholder feedback that the wide variety of rehabilitation programs and services across organizations is a source of confusion and frustration. The type of services, degree of specialization and frequency and duration of therapy can vary significantly from one program to another. The result is often uncertainty about where to make referrals and delays for patients. In addition, the lack of consistency makes it difficult to measure and compare patient outcomes between programs or to plan effectively across the system.
What is the initiative?
In the initial phase of the project, the GTA Rehab Network worked with its members to develop a generic framework and definitions that describe the key components of rehabilitation in each setting (e.g., services provided, differential criteria, degree of specialization, frequency, typical duration, etc.). The framework provided a starting point to standardize rehab programs and ensure consistency across organizations.
The Toronto ABI Network has worked with our member organizations to facilitate the process of adapting this generic framework for ABI/Neuro rehab populations using best-available evidence.
How will this involve your organization?
Based on the completion of the ABI/Neuro framework, a self assessment tool will be developed and can be used by organizations to evaluate their programs against the established definitions/standards. Respondents will be asked to report on whether they fully meet, partially meet, or do not meet individual definitions. Once the information is received, the Network (through the Advisory Committee) will work with our members to determine next steps and support system-level advocacy.
Why should your organization participate?
- Improved performance measurement ~ Survey results will allow your organization to determine how well you are meeting the evidence-based standards and help you identify quality improvement initiatives.
- Improved system planning ~ Survey results will provide all of us with a clearer picture of the current state of rehab across the Network’s membership and within individual LHINs.
- Enhanced advocacy ~ Survey results will allow the Network to conduct a system-wide analysis of ABI/Neuro rehab programming, rehab resources, and issues related to timely access. This information will support organizational and system-wide advocacy efforts for the necessary resources to ensure timely access and equitable standards of care. (Note: Any reporting of survey findings will be shared in aggregate form only.)
In the next few weeks your organization will be receiving the self-assessment survey. The survey will be sent to senior level administrators who will be asked to circulate it to the managers of the relevant units. We anticipate it will require less than one hour to complete a survey.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Judy Moir at moir.judy@torontorehab.on.ca or 416-597-3057.
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