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Evidence to Improve Care

Clinical Handbooks for Quality-Based Procedures

Health Quality Ontario has developed a number of Clinical Handbooks to support Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Quality-Based Procedures strategy. The Quality-Based Procedures strategy combines the introduction of new hospital funding models with clinical best practice recommendations for specific patient populations (for example, patients receiving hip replacements).

Each Clinical Handbook contains a description of the patient population with a set of recommendations on how to provide the best care possible for patients. Health Quality Ontario works with Advisory Committees that includes experts, patients and caregivers to develop the recommendations in the Clinical Handbook.

Find Health Quality Ontario’s Clinical Handbooks and associated resources below.


Clinical Handbook
(PDF)

Rapid Reviews


Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
(PDF)


Airway Clearance Techniques for Patients With Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
(PDF)


Exercise Programs After Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
(PDF)


Prophylactic Antibiotics for Individuals With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
(PDF)


Pulmonary Rehabilitation in the Home Versus Other Settings for Individuals With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
(PDF)


Pulmonary Rehabilitation Setting for Adults With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
(PDF)


Respiratory Therapy Services in Home Care for Individuals With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
(PDF)


In-Hospital Physiotherapy for Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD)
(PDF)


Action Plans for Individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
(PDF)


Budget Impact Analysis


Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Postacute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Impact Analysis
(PDF)


Resources


To access Health Quality Ontario’s Quality Compass for tools and resources to support best practices for treating patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, click here.


To access the Ontario Hospital Association’s On-Demand Broadcast on Quality-Based Procedures – Key Practice Changes and Clinical Implementation Considerations: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, click here.


One page summary pathway


Two page summary pathway


Bell, C. HQO's Episode of Care for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Ontario Hospital Association Webcast, October 23, 2013

Clinical Handbook
(PDF)

Rapid Reviews


Communication of Discharge Instructions
(PDF)


Criteria for Referral to Heart Failure Clinics


Criteria for Referral to Home Care
(PDF)


Vasodilators for Inhospital Heart Failure Management
(PDF)


Sodium Restriction in Heart Failure
(PDF)


Aerobic Exercise Training in Patients With Heart Failure
(PDF)


Home-Based Exercise Programs in Heart Failure
(PDF)


Medication Reconciliation at Discharge
(PDF)


Physical Activity Counselling
(PDF)


Ultrafiltration in Heart Failure
(PDF)


Coronary Revascularization in Ischemic Heart Failure Patients
(PDF)


Early Mobilization and Ambulation in Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients
(PDF)


Vasodilators for Inhospital Heart Failure Management
(PDF)


Chest X-rays for Diagnosing Pulmonary Infection as a Precipitant of Acute Heart Failure
(PDF)


B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Testing
(PDF)


In-Hospital Performance Indicators for In-Hospital Heart Failure Management
(PDF)


Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators or Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy for In-Hospital Heart Failure
(PDF)


Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps for Heart Failure Management
(PDF)


Electrocardiograms for Diagnosing Ischemia as a Precipitant to Acute Heart Failure
(PDF)


Inotropic and Vasoactive Agents for In-Hospital Heart Failure Management
(PDF)


In-Hospital Electrocardiographic (ECG) Telemetry Monitoring for Acute Heart Failure
(PDF)


Invasive Monitoring with Pulmonary Artery Catheters in Heart Failure
(PDF)


Resources


To access the Ontario Hospital Association’s On-Demand Broadcast on Quality-Based Procedures – Key Practice Changes and Clinical Implementation Considerations: Congestive Heart Failure, click here.


If you have any questions about a Clinical Handbook for Quality-Based Procedures, please contact us at Evidence@HQOntario.ca.


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