Ontario Shores Announces Clinical Changes to Improve Patient Care

WHITBY, ON, Dec. 14 /CNW/ - To fulfill its role as a specialized mental health care provider and serve the needs of those with complex and serious mental illness, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores) will be making changes to its programs, services and staffing over the next four months. These changes will improve patient care and respond to the needs of the communities it serves.

"At the core of our work is our service to patients. A tremendous amount of thoughtful planning and consideration went into these changes to ensure that Ontario Shores meets the needs of our patients, families and communities," says Glenna Raymond, President and CEO, Ontario Shores.  "We reviewed clinical best practices and engaged in consultations with community healthcare providers, stakeholders and users of mental health care services. This community input provided valuable information about care needs and expectations."

Ontario Shores will provide a greater focus on assessment and stabilization services in Adolescents and Dual Diagnosis and a new program for the treatment of complex personality disorders.

In addition, given Ontario Shores' large service area, a more efficient model for the Homes for Special Care program will be created.

Adjustments to the staff complement will be required to support these program changes.  As a result, 52 positions, including 22 full-time and 30 part-time/casual, will be affected. Staff in these positions have received layoff notices and will have the opportunity to pursue various options, including vacancies, early retirement and voluntary exits over the next four months.

"Our staff provide an environment of hope and offer such great care and compassion for our patients and families," says Raymond.  "As we move through this process, it is important to us that we support our staff who are affected by these changes."

Ontario Shores will offer tuition reimbursement and career counselling services to affected staff. Additional support will also be available through the Employee Assistance Program, Human Resources, Occupational Health and Wellness, and the management team.

To support the implementation of the new models of care, Ontario Shores is also projecting the creation of 33 new positions (full-time, part-time/casual). See attached background for more information on clinical changes.

About Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences:

Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores) is a leader in mental health care, providing a spectrum of specialized assessment and treatment services for people living with complex mental illness. Patients benefit from a recovery-oriented environment of care, built on compassion, inspiration and hope. Ontario Shores engages in research, education and advocacy initiatives to advance the mental health care system. 

Clinical Service Changes

Background Information

December 14, 2010

To fulfill its role as a specialized mental health care provider and serve the needs of those with complex and serious mental illness, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores) will be making changes to its programs, services and staffing over the next four months.  These changes will improve patient care and respond to the needs of the communities Ontario Shores serves.

As part of this process, Ontario Shores conducted comprehensive planning, reviewed clinical best practices and engaged in consultations with community healthcare providers, stakeholders and users of mental health care services.

Below is a summary of the program and service changes:

Adolescent Inpatient Services: Ontario Shores will combine its two units (Adolescent Residential Rehabilitation Unit and Assessment, Stabilization, Treatment and Transition Unit) into one, 12-bed unit to provide increased access to specialized assessment, stabilization and treatment to more individuals.

Dual Diagnosis Service (DDS):  In response to input from stakeholders, Ontario Shores will provide greater focus on assessment and stabilization services. With changing resources in the community and a pattern of decreased occupancy rates in DDS, the unit will move from 16 beds to 10 beds and outpatient programming will be strengthened. 

Beacon House Stouffville:  The 12-week residential model that operates in Stouffville will be replaced with a new, intensive outpatient model of care to serve more individuals with severe and complex personality disorders. 

Homes for Special Care: Ontario Shores has a large service area and the organization will be realigning its staff within key geographic locations to improve work flow and efficiencies.

Ontario Shores is projecting the creation of 33 new positions (full-time and part-time/casual) for the implementation of these new models of care.

For further information:

For more information, or to set up an interview, please contact:
Andrea Worrall
Communications Officer
Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
905-430-4055 ext. 6581
Cell: 905-439-0224
[email protected]