Home and Community Care research gets a funding boost

Grants program aims to improve the client and family experience

Toronto, August 17 – Exploring how teens with Type 1 diabetes can use their cell phone to track and self-manage their condition is among the innovative projects receiving funding through the Care to Know Centre’s first annual Applied Client-focused Team (ACT) research grants program.

"The Care to Know Centre (CTKC) is dedicated to supporting and advancing applied research as a means to positively impact the health care experience of clients and families in their homes and communities," says Nicole Beben, executive director of the Centre. "Through Postdoctoral Fellowships and Team Research Grants, we are helping to trigger fresh ideas, facilitate unique partnerships and develop new approaches to improving the point of contact between individuals and the system."

Today, home care is one of the fastest growing segments of our health care system; however, more investment and research are needed to advance our knowledge and understanding of this cost-effective and client-focused method of health care delivery.

With public opinion polls showing that 80 per cent of Canadians support the development of more home and community care programs, the CTKC is taking a leadership role by providing funding to organizations who are interested in evaluating the impact of home and community care and its value to Canadians.

According to Beben, the ACT Research Grants Program was specifically designed to ensure that researchers, health care providers, clients and families can work together to identify projects that make meaningful contributions to a body of evidence that will better support clients and families as well as health care providers.

This year, three applied research projects are being granted, each to pursue client and family-centered care initiatives. Awards of up to $50,000 are available. Our recipients include:

1. Dr. Kevin Brazil at St. Joseph’s Health System Research Network in partnership with McMaster University and HNHB Hospice Palliative Care Network – to research and enhance client centred care in community palliative care.
   
   
2. Dr. Dina Brooks at West Park Healthcare Centre in partnership with the University of Toronto and the City of Toronto – the team will develop a community-based maintenance program for individuals with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD).
   
   
3. Dr. Joseph Cafazzo at the University Health Network, Centre for Global eHealth Innovation in partnership with the Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto – the team will explore a mobile phone-based self management system for adolescents with Type I Diabetes.

The Care to Know Centre (CTKC) is the national knowledge exchange network of Saint Elizabeth Health Care. Harnessing the knowledge of leaders including clients, decision-makers, care providers and researchers, the vision of CTKC is to act as a change catalyst of client-focused care through partnerships as well as knowledge generation and exchange initiatives that mobilize client perspectives to improve and influence health experiences, practices and policies for Canadians.

For more information, contact:
Nicole Beben, Executive Director
Care to Know Centre
(905) 968-6546