Toronto Best Practices Initiative - Long Term Care Guidelines

The Regional Best Practice Coordinator in LTC role was introduced into the long-term care sector approximately two and half years ago. Funded by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care’s Nursing Secretariat there are eight Best Practice Coordinators across Ontario. Their role is to help LTC nurses and staff to gain access to current health care knowledge and research in order to improve the quality of the daily care provided to residents and families.

In Toronto, the Best Practice Implementation Steering Committee convened under the auspices of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care’s Best Practice Initiative to identify or develop best practice resources that would assist caregivers in long term care homes.  Led by the Toronto Best Practice Coordinator, best practice resources are available for use in the following areas: Hydration Management, Skin Care and Pressure Ulcer Management, Pain Assessment and Management, Optimizing Blood Glucose Levels, Falls Prevention and Management, Bladder and Bowel Management, and the The 3-D's (Delirium, Depression and Dementia). In each instance an overall policy and procedures document is followed by several assessment tools.

Hydration
 Policy and Procedure on Hydration
The Dehydration Risk Appraisal Checklist
The Dehydration Signs and Symptoms Checklist
The Hypodermoclysis Checklist
 

Skin and Ulcer Care
Policy and Procedures on Skin and Ulcer Care
Pressure Ulcer and Wound Assessment Record
The Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk

Pain Assessment and Management
Policy and Procedures on Pain Assessment and Management
A Pain Assessment Tool
A Pain Management Flow Record
 

Falls Prevention Management
Policy and Procedures on Falls Prevention and Management
Slide Materials on the Prevention and Management of Falls
A Falls Risk Checklist
The Morse Falls Scale
 

Bladder and Bowel Incontinence Management
Policy and Procedures on Bladder and Bowel Management
Bladder and Bowel Continence Assessment
7 Day Bowel Record
Voiding Fluid Record
Quarterly Continence Assessment

Diabetes Management

Pamphlet on optimizing blood glucose - Part 1
Pamphlet on optimizing blood glucose - Part 2

The 3-D's - Depression, Delirium and Dementia
A 3-D's Resource Guide
A Chart Comparing the 3-D's
The 3-D's Quiz
Answers to the 3-D's Quiz

 
For more information about the Toronto Best Practice in LTC Initiative resources visit the following website at url: www.rgpc.ca/best/resources.cfm

or contact: Josephine Santos
Regional Best Practice Coordinator in LTC – Toronto
jsantos@rnao.org