In reflecting on my learning throughout the course to date I believe that this course has helped me further my personal and professional development as a health care professional. In reviewing the very beginning of the course when reflecting on my online presence I see a shift in my thinking about how I present myself online as a health professional. I have learned that by creating an appropriate and professional online presence, such as my ePortfolio, can serve many purposes and put you on the map, especially as a young health professional. Social media platforms, content curation and other online platforms can be used as a tool for health professionals to target, educate and communicate with certain audiences. This course has helped me identify who I am as a health professional and how my role in home and community care is interconnected with various health professionals at various levels within the health care system.
In building my ePortfolio I have been able to build my professional online identity as I progressed through each unit of the course. I designed the sections within me ePortfolio (specifically my blog and resources section) in a way that audience members outside of the course could follow along with the weekly content. For each unit I have a corresponding blog as well as a section in my resources page. I feel as though I have well synthesized my experience within the health care system and my current role as a Client Service Coordinator into each of my blogs and content throughout my ePortfolio.
Inter-professional connectedness, federal and provincial health systems, determinants of health, multi-level models of health, chronic disease prevention and management, vulnerable populations and future directions of health are areas that influence all health professionals, patients and communities. All of the topics discussed throughout the units directly influence my role within home and community care. For example, chronic disease is a major factor for many clients receiving home care services, and it is crucial that the health care professionals interacting with those needing home care services understand how social determinants of health impact health outcomes.
My participation in the weekly forums has allowed me to interact with health professionals from various backgrounds which I believe has given me more perspective and helped me grow as a professional. I particularly enjoyed interacting with classmates that had very opposite backgrounds to me as it challenged my way of thinking. I have also benefited from the weekly discussion forums as I have gained a better understanding of how other provinces health care systems operate in comparison to Ontario. This has highlighted both strengths and shortcomings within Ontario’s health care system. Throughout my research and communication with fellow students in other provinces I would say that of all the provinces reviewed and discussed that British Columbia appears to be one of the stronger health care systems within in Canada. I found that British Columbia had strong reconciliation initiatives and strategies in place for better serving indigenous populations compared to Ontario. In addition, BC has already adopted the idea of ‘Health Teams’ with the goal of eliminating silos within the health care system while providing better patient-centered care.
Future Health for Home and Community Care in Ontario
Overall my findings in the course have led me to understand that there is a substantial portion of Ontario’s population in need of home care services but are unable to receive them due to geographical location. Ontario as a province needs to work toward eliminating this health inequity as the need of home care services is expected to increase with our rapidly growing aging population. As geographical location acts as a barrier to accessible health care in Ontario it is also important that strategies are put in place at regional levels to appropriately address the needs of the population at the community level. With Ontario’s newly implemented restructuring of Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) into ‘Ontario Health Teams’ I believe that this will allow interprofessional teams to come together and more appropriately address regional demands within the health care system.
An issue home care providers face is meeting the supply and demand of home care services. Geographical barriers are not the only issue preventing individuals from receiving home care services in Ontario. Staffing and retention are major challenges home care providers face the hinder the ability to offer equitable home care services to all. That being said, change and innovation is required to improve future health outcomes of individuals needing home care services in years to come.
Ontario has begun to introduce new models of care with the use of technology to improve home care services, enable patients to better self-manage, and reduce the risk of hospital visits—ultimately reducing the cost of health care on the province while providing more patient-centered care. As an example, SmartCoach is a remote monitoring system integrated into the home using wireless technology to help individuals living with chronic diseases to monitor and self-manage their conditions while living at home. This technology is used to monitor and assess vital signs, provide information on how to self-manage and develop an appropriate care plan, all done without the patient having to leave their own home.
I've included my MHST601 twitter chat below on future health to add to my thoughts on future health within Ontario's health care system
Twitter Chat
Q1: What #futurehealth tends have you noticed in your own professional discipline? #MHST601chat #MHST601
A1: I have noticed the trend of caregiver engagement within my role in home care. Supporting both the client and the caregiver is key in optimizing client health . Learn more about #futurehealth trends in home care below #MHST601 #MHST601chat https://www.alayacare.com/blog/important-predictions-for-home-care-in-2019
Q2: What previously identified trends/guidelines are still being unmet in your discipline, years after those recommendations have been made? #MHST601chat #FutureHealth #MHST601
A2: The MOHLTC set out a guideline for a capacity plan to address accessibility issues for Ontarians needing home care. This capacity plan has not followed through on addressing the geographical barriers in providing accessible home care in Ontario. #MHST601 #MHST601chat
Q3: What are the current (or foreseeable) barriers to implementing #FutureHealth trends in your discipline? #MHST601 #MHSTchat
A3: A current barrier in implementing technology in home base care is the concern of useability for both staff and patients. Home care clients require the physical presence of workers to provide care, which technology cannot replace. #MHST601chat #MHST601
Q4: Does consumerism have a role within the healthcare system? Should it? #MHST601chat #FutureHealth #MHST601
A4: Consumerism is not fully responsible for existing health inequities. Even if the health system only had publicly funded care this does not mean that people who are in need of care get it any faster. #MHST601chat #FutureHealth #MHST601
Q5: Has the role of the patient/client changed within your practice (or discipline)? #MHST601 #FutureHealth #MHST601
A5: Patient-centered care has been at the forefront of quality improvement initiatives within the field of health and long-term care with integration of programs like dementiability, making hospital settings more home like. #MHST601chat
Q6: What #FutureHealth trends appeal the most to you and why? (Not limited to those in your own discipline) #MHST601 #MHST601chat
A6: I find the idea of intergenerational collaboration of older adults and young children (i.e.,daycares in LTC) to be a #futurehealth trend that can decrease stigmatization of older adults, educate younger generations and increase happiness and well-being. #MHST601chat
To conclude, throughout the course I have learned that home care is the future of health. Therefore, the health care system must integrate innovative and accessible measures to improve home care across Ontario. I believe that the integration of technology can help address health inequities faced in Ontario such as geographical issues. However, technology cannot replace the work of PSWs as the point of home care is to have a worker physically present to assist the individual with care. Meaning, stronger supports must be put in place for personal support workers, caregiver and families to assist older adults and other users of home care to live in their homes for as long as safely possible.
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