Niagarans with Life-Limiting Illness Can Access Free Support, Advice from Home

St. Catharines, ON – Niagara residents with a chronic illness and their care partners can access a specially trained registered nurse to assist them in managing their symptoms and day-to-day well-being in the comfort of their homes.

The Virtual Care Monitoring (VCM) program, a Hospice Niagara-led initiative of the NOHT-ÉSON, enables patients to report their symptoms through a weekly health questionnaire. A registered nurse then reviews the questionnaire and contacts the person for more details if necessary. The nurse can also reach out to the patient’s doctor, family or connect them to community services that can best support the person’s needs.

“Whether it is cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or another progressive, life-limiting illness, we know that a palliative approach to care early in a person’s illness or when transitioning home from hospital can improve health outcomes and quality of life for themselves and their loved ones,” said Sue Shipley, Senior Director of Clinical Services at Hospice Niagara.

“The Virtual Care Monitoring program also means that the patient has a dedicated registered nurse on their team who can respond to the person’s symptoms before a crisis occurs. Depending on the issue, the nurse can support the person with a phone call and the most appropriate health care resource, including their doctor or primary care team.”

Some of the program’s benefits include the patient’s increased engagement in their own health care journey, greater access to health care resources, and potential avoidance of emergency department visits.

Through the program, a tablet is provided to the person to use in their home, or they can use their own mobile device. There is also support to set up and use the virtual care monitoring technology. The program is offered at no cost.

“The registered nurse’s knowledge and medical expertise to assist and guide me through the navigation of the health care system has proven invaluable,” said Andrea Atack, whose father, James, frequently visited the hospital for symptoms associated with congestive heart failure before he enrolled in the program.

“The nurse monitors my dad’s situation closely and keeps in touch with my father and me, and our family doctor is contacted if medication needs to be adjusted or a call or visit is needed. To my dad and I, this is one of the program’s greatest benefits.”

Primary care teams and physicians can refer their patients to the VCM program, or the person can self-refer by visiting www.hospiceniagara.ca/virtual-care-monitoring or calling 289-969-7307.