Mississauga program awarded for innovative program that has cardiac patients leaving hospital sooner - with support in the home

Trillium Health Partners and SE Health were awarded the 2018 Minister's Medal for their cardiac program, Putting Patients at the Heart. The program has the hospital and home care acting as a team and can share health information through an EHR. It uses a 24-hour support line after surgery so patients don’t need to visit their doctor or the ED. Patients are also supported by a community nurse for assessments and to recommend next steps. Patients in the program were found to be able to return home, on average, one day sooner following heart surgery, freeing up three hospital beds annually. Patients reported 96% satisfaction with the program and 98% would recommend the program.