b'ESSENTIAL CARE PARTNERSPRIVACY AND CONSENTUNDERSTANDING HEALTH PRIVACY AT A GLANCE:AND CONSENT IN ONTARIO: A GUIDE FOR CARE PROVIDERSThis resource provides an overview of health privacy rules in Ontario as they relate to caregivers, so providers have the information they need to work together with caregivers to support patients and work together as partners in care. Read Understanding health privacy and consent in Ontario: a guide for caregivers and care Having information about the patients care and recovery can be an important part of the caregiving role, yet Ontarios health privacy laws and rules can make it difficult for both healthcare providers and caregivers to understand how they can communicate effectively while ensuring patient privacy.When the legal aspects of health privacy are misunderstoodor even fearedit can result in poor communication and get in the way providers for more in depth information.It can be difficult for providers to respond to caregiver requests for information when:Youre not sure whether the patient wants their information shared with that caregiverYou want to involve caregivers but receive instructions from the patient not to share informationThe patient seems uncomfortable in the presence of the caregiver or there may be signs of abuse of caregivers supporting patient needs.The patient says one thing and the caregiver says another thingSo what do you, as a provider, need to know to help you navigate these privacy and consent issues? 1You should ask patients throughout their care if there is anyone you are allowed to share their personal When asking patients for consent to share personal health information with caregivers, avoid inviting automatic no responses with hard questions and try taking a softer, more supportive approach. health information with, either verbally or by sharing the actual health records.If the pa tient seems uncomfortable with the presence of the caregiver, you should ask the patient if they give consent for information to be shared with, or collected from, the caregiver or to have the caregiver in the room. This may involve asking the caregiver to leave the room for this conversation. If the pa tient says noto sharing information the first time, repeat your request when you see an improvement in the patients clinical status. If clinically appropriate, explore why they dont want you to New Essential Care share information.RULES OF ENGAGEMENTPartner Support Hub15 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE MEANINGFUL Tools and tips for long-term care homesENGAGEMENT OF CAREGIVERS, PATIENTS AND FAMILIESE ssential care partners supportTo help support your efforts, theThe Rules of Engagement were designed as a set of simple guidelines to help health care organizations support the meaningful engagement of caregivers, patients, and families to create sustained and meaningful change across care settings. a resident with critical physical,Essential Care Partner Support HubThere is growing recognition in Ontario about the importance of caregiver, patient and family engagement as a critical success factor for healthcare emotional and cognitive supportcan provide guidance and coaching toimprovement.People with lived experience in the health care system have valuable expertise, wisdom and insights to offer. Evidence shows that when they are involved from the outset to drive change in health and often assist with a range ofyour team, connect you to peers whocare, it can result in a better care experience and better health outcomes.This resource provides an in-depth overview of activities such as eating and mealtime,have implemented an Essential Carethe Rules of Engagement. A one-page Rules of Engagement Summary is also available. recreational activities, dental hygiene,Partner program, and provide you with bathing and changing clothes.resources, tools and templates. There Different from visitors, essential careis also an opportunity for ongoingThis document has been adapted from materials partners are necessary to the qualitylearning and knowledge exchangeoriginally developed by The Change Foundation in collaboration with caregivers and patients.of life, day-to-day experiences andthrough the Essential Care Partner well-being of the resident. TheirLearning Collaborative (an interactive presence is essential even duringforum for health care provider health system pressures organizations to share knowledge, and outbreaks. experience and resources related toCaregiver ID: Templates to createEssential Care Partner programs a badge to identify essential care The inclusion of essential careand practices). partners formally and visually in partners in long-term care homescare settings.provides numerous benefits toThe resources available through the residents, families and staff. TheseEssential Care Partner Support HubMeaningful Engagement & benefits include improved qualitywere designed in collaboration withCo-Design with Caregivers: of care and resident outcomes,care providers and care partners andResources and tools to support improved working conditions for include implementation guides andmeaningful engagement andcare providers, and reductions inpractical tips. co-design with caregivers.overall costs.Here are just a few of the resourcesHealth Privacy and Consent Formally identifying, including andavailable on the website:supporting essential care partnersResources: Resources to help as part of the care team are keyEssential Care Partner Programproviders and caregivers bettercomponents of an Essential CareImplementation Guide: This guide,understand health privacy and Partner (ECP) program. Many long- developed by The Ontario Centresconsent rules.term care homes across the provincefor Learning, Research & Innovation Essential Care Partner Leading are already implementing the policiesin Long-Term Care at Bruyre, and leading practices of an ECPincludes a step-by-step process toPractices: These leading practices program, while others may just bedevelop or improve an Essentialdemonstrate the key components getting started. ECP programs are anCare Partner program in long-termof successful Essential Careimportant part of family-centred care. care homes. Partner programs.16 LONG TERM CARE TODAY Spring/Summer 2023'