Island Health hopes to support Comox Valley seniors through a new service model.
The model would allow nurse practitioners to support seniors waiting to be admitted to long-term care homes and address their healthcare needs.
The health authority says the model was made in response to the struggles seniors face, including barriers to accessing a long-term care home without a main care provider. Only three nurse practitioners provide care to all long-term homes in the region.
Physician lead for long-term care Dr. Sand Russell-Atkinson says through her work in these homes, she understands how challenging the process is with admitting seniors.
They hope with this model, it not only improves patients’ access to care, but also helps make the overall healthcare system more sustainable.
Island Health plans to expand the model to other places in the region sometime in the future.
