Specialized community-based care, often referred to as intermediate care, is care provided to people with long-term (chronic) illnesses who need more than basic care, but do not require intensive care. There is convincing evidence specialized community-based care improves outcomes in patients with heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and diabetes.
Health Quality Ontario Reviews Specialized Community-Based Care
Health Quality Ontario conducted a series of evidence reviews of specialized community-based care to:
Review the literature on specialized community-based care for chronic diseases
Gather the evidence from previous analyses of specialized community-based care for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, diabetes and chronic wounds
Examine the role of intermediate care within family practice
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care endorses these recommendations.
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has provided the following response: The Ministry agrees with these recommendations and encourages health service providers to examine opportunities to implement specialized community-based care. The Ministry is working with system partners to examine implementation opportunities.