The AHCRU collaborated with other research teams on an evaluation of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Health Links Model. Health Links was launched as a strategy to provide better integrated community-based healthcare for patients with complex health and social needs through the provision of a coordinated plan of care to address patient’s goals supported by many providers.
Researchers from the ACHRU worked on the evaluation of the experiences of caregivers’ of Health Links patients, while researchers from Queen’s University, Western University and University of Toronto investigated the patient and provider experiences.
Funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care through Health System Research Fund, this project was undertaken by a research consortium at four research centres to evaluate Health Links impact on patient experience and system value. This study explored its ability to connect, integrate, and coordinate Health Link resources and outcomes on the care, health, cost, and health provider.
The project’s overall objectives were as follows:
- Measure the value of the Health Links model in terms of health care costs and utilization patterns
- Determine the impact of the Health Links model on patient, provider, and caregiver’s experience
Publication in Plos One