Making person-centred care a reality across Ontario

Patients are at the heart of what we do at CCO. This focus on person-centred care helps drive every decision we make.

It can be seen in system-level programs and guidelines that enable treatment and care for patients, people living with chronic disease, and their families.

But it truly comes to life in the work of our partners at regional cancer centres and programs.

Our recently released annual report on person-centred care in the province demonstrated some of the ways this focus is being integrated into Ontario cancer care on a daily basis.

Here a few of the highlights from across the province:

Helping with symptom management

• Patients with head and neck cancers often have complex symptom management needs, in large part due to intensive treatments. The Ottawa Hospital is working to improve care for these patients by providing a telephone support line, resource centre and online patient learning links.
   
• The Stronach Regional Cancer Program at Southlake Regional Health Centre created an after-hours symptom management system to support patients in urgent need of self-managing their cancer diagnoses and side effects of treatment.
   
• A new oncology sexual health clinic was created at the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario to make it easier for cancer patients to discuss their sexual health and receive resources and counselling to help them throughout their care.

Enhancing patient experience

• Based on patient feedback, an initiative at Odette Cancer Centre was undertaken to connect patients with staff in real-time, helping to improve patient experience and satisfaction.
   
• A new campaign was designed by the Windsor Regional Hospital to ensure that patients and their families know exactly what to expect when it comes to their care. Patients and staff alike are engaged through simple graphical tools (such as buttons, posters and floor decals) to discuss next steps in care during every interaction.
   
• Princess Margaret Cancer Centre launched a quality improvement program to support breast cancer patients and improve their experiences.
   
• The Durham Regional Cancer Centre involved patients in the design, delivery and evaluation of their care. Through face-to-face interviews, feedback helped to optimize the patient experience by improving and standardizing treatment processes.
   
• Grand River Hospital has refreshed its family resource centre to provide a better space and more up-to-date resources. The new, renovated space creates a bright and inviting atmosphere for patients and their families.
   
• Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has implemented a telemedicine tool to help ensure all patients across a vast geographic area receive the same access to cancer services. 

Increasing access to screening

• A hotline helps connect residents of North Simcoe Muskoka -- particularly under-screened populations -- to cancer screening. The call-in service provides tailored advice to help individuals navigate the various screening programs.
   
• A mobile bus coach offers cancer risk assessments and screening services to residents in Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant. Through a continued partnership with Six Nations and New Credit communities, the coach was able to bring its services to these communities.

Read the full year in review report to learn more about how person-centred care is being advanced in Ontario.

Have a question about this blog post? Email us at publicaffairs@cancercare.on.ca