NETWORK E-BULLETIN - NOVEMBER 2006 EDITION

Electronic Record Launches in November

Working Together For Kids & Teens with Disabilities

For the first time, kids with multiple disabilities in Simcoe & York have one point of contact for a single plan of care. By dialing 1-866-377-0286, parents of kids with special needs connect to the first service delivery model that links healthcare, education, recreation, social and community resources from over 30 Partner agencies and organizations. The Network coordinates services and monitors each child’s progress through all the phases of their development, from birth to age 19. The Network is also expanding and adding services that are critically needed in the community to bring more services closer to home and help reduce waitlists.  
 

Network News At A Glance:

• Electronic Record Launches in  November
• Over 25 Professionals Added to Local Teams serving Kids  and Families
• New Network Members Sign On
• Simcoe Resource Centre Providing More Services Closer to Home
  

Electronic Record Pilot Goes Live at end of November!
A common Electronic Record used by all Partners across the Network is an essential tool to support the development and delivery of an integrated, single plan of care for each child and family.  Over the past months, a number of Network partners have been helping to design and test the software application that will be launched at the end of November.

Using the electronic record, multi-disciplinary teams from Partner organizations will be able to conduct a team assessment, develop an integrated plan of care, share confidential information and clinical notes across multiple organizations securely, prioritize efforts and monitor progress.  Shared use of this electronic record will also help eliminate duplication of services and allow Network partners to maximize resources to help meet the needs and goals of kids and families. The new Electronic Record, which will be accessed via a secure, password protected website, will be introduced in phases:

Phase I Pilot Program  (late November to end of 2006)  - Service  Navigators, Coordinators, Therapists and Clinicians from over 20 Network  Partners will pilot the software application.  During this first phase, Network  Partners will identify, assess and develop integrated care plans for 30-50  high needs children and their families. Training for the pilot group will  begin in mid-November and will focus on processes for developing a single plan  of care as well as use of the software  application.

Phase II  (January to May 2007) -  Input from the  Phase I pilot will be used to refine and streamline the Electronic Record  software for rollout to more Network Partners. During Phase II, we will  fine-tune the software to increase functionality, streamline connectivity, and begin to build some critical interfaces, as well as expand training to include more Network Partner staff. The goal is to have a minimum of 500 kids and  families on the Electronic Record system by the end of May  2007.

Phase III  (June to end of 2007) -  The balance of  2007 will focus on continued expansion of clinical tools and operational  features of the Electronic Record system. We will also continue to rollout the  application to more Network Partners and expand staff training. Throughout the  process, we will continue to work with all Partners to identify and transition all children requiring integrated Network services onto the Electronic Record  system.

25 Professionals Added to Local Teams
Recruitment at 30% of Target and Growing Strong - Network Partners are focused on expanding resources for kids with special needs and recruitment efforts are gaining momentum. To date, over 25 additional therapists, service coordinators and specialty services professionals have been hired, which places us at 30% of our goal. In total, the Network is funding recruitment of 78 additional professionals to augment staff in Partner organizations dedicated to driving more services into the community through the Network’s Local Teams.

Local Teams Gearing Up - 10 Local Teams, each consisting of therapists, service coordinators, educators and service providers are in the process of being formed:

• 5 Local Teams  for Simcoe – serving Collingwood, Midland, Orillia, Barrie and Alliston and  their surrounding areas
• 5  Local Teams for York and “Cross Border” communities – serving the  Newmarket/Aurora/Bradford area, Georgina, Oak Ridges/Richmond Hill, Vaughan  and Markham

Each Team includes a Local Team Facilitator. These individuals support Local Teams to implement common clinical standards, develop a single plan of care for each child and facilitate collaboration between Team members.  Initial training for Local Team Facilitators begins in November.  Orientation and training for Local Team staff, supervisors and managers will take place throughout November and December.  

Welcome to Our Newest Network Partners
Over the past 6 months, 10 additional Partners have officially joined the Network. Today, the Network’s Partner roster includes more than 30 school boards, hospitals and services providers who serve children with special needs. For details on Network Partner and Member organizations, visit www.ctn-simcoeyork.ca/aboutctn/ourpartners.php

Simcoe Resource Centre Providing More Services Closer to Home
Since the Centre’s official opening celebration in September, over 50 children and their families have accessed a variety of services closer to home. These include seating and mobility assessments, psychological assessments, occupational therapy and more.

The Centre is a meeting point for the Barrie Local Team to consult, train and access specialty equipment and assessment tools and services.  New specialty services include Augmentative Communications, Diagnostic Assessment and Feeding and Swallowing.  Seating and Mobility and Orthotics services will be available later in the fall.  For more information about the Simcoe Resource Centre visit www.ctn-simcoeyork.ca/aboutctn/newsandupdates.php?article=35