Ontario Establishing Care Coordination Service to Support Patient Access to End of Life Options

Province Improving Access to Information on Medical Assistance in Dying

May 29, 2017

Ontario is establishing a care coordination service to help patients and clinicians access information and supports for medical assistance in dying and other end-of-life options.

Starting May 31st, the care coordination service can be accessed by patients and their caregivers, as well as doctors or nurse practitioners. Through the care coordination service, patients and their caregivers can receive information about end-of-life options, including information on hospice care, other palliative care options in their community and medical assistance in dying.

Patients and caregivers looking for more information or support with medical assistance in dying can call the care coordination service to request to be connected to a doctor or nurse practitioner who can provide medical assistance in dying services, such as eligibility assessments. Doctors or nurse practitioners who are unable or unwilling to provide medical assistance in dying can also contact the care coordination service to refer their patients to doctors or nurse practitioners who can provide these services.

This service will also support patient access to medical assistance in dying by helping doctors and nurse practitioners connect with a:

• Doctor or nurse practitioner who can provide the second assessment that is needed to confirm that a patient meets all the eligibility criteria as set out in the federal legislation.
• Community pharmacist that will dispense the drugs needed for medical assistance in dying.
• Doctor or nurse practitioner that will prescribe or administer the drugs required for medical assistance in dying, if needed.

The care coordination service can be reached by calling toll free 1-866-286-4023 or TTY 844-953-3350. The service is available Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST, in English and French, and translation assistance in other languages can be requested. Beginning September 1, 2017, the information line will be made available 24/7.

Ontario is working together with health care partners across the province to develop information, tools and training to support patients, caregivers and health care providers on medical assistance in dying-related matters.

QUOTES

"We're committed to supporting patients, their families and health care providers as they deal with the sensitive and often complex issues related to end-of-life options, including medical assistance in dying. The new care coordination service will help support patients access the health care option that best suits their needs and wishes."
- Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario's health regulatory colleges for physicians, nurses and pharmacists provide additional guidance to help their members provide appropriate medical assistance in dying.
• Ontario recently passed medical assistance in dying legislation that provides greater clarity for patients, their families, health care providers and health care institutions.
• Ontario's approach to medical assistance in dying is informed by public consultations, with thousands of Ontarians, health care providers and stakeholders sharing their views through in-person and online consultations.
• Ontario is investing $155 million over three years to improve community-based palliative and end-of-life care.

LEARN MORE

• Details on medical assistance in dying
• Information for health care providers
• The Medical Assistance in Dying Statute Law Amendment Act