About Patient Services

Complex Continuing Care

Rehabilitation and Community Living

Long Term Care

Admitting Forms

Patient Email

Info for Referring Professionals

West Park Healthcare Centre
feedback@westpark.org
82 Buttonwood Ave.
Toronto ON M6M 2J5
Tel (416) 243-3600
Fax (416) 243-8947

Rehabilitation and Community Living

Home Ventilator Training

For people who need mechanical assistance to breathe

At one time, people who required ventilators to breathe had to live permanently in hospital. Now, thanks to programs like West Park's Home Ventilation Assessment and Training Service, many can live in the community.

Members of the West Park team train patients and caregivers how to deal with personal and equipment needs and handle emergency situations. They also suggest modifications for community living, mobility and communication devices, to help patients live as comfortably, safely and independently as possible.

For further information on this service or to make an appointment, please call a Respiratory Services Care Co-ordinator at 416-243-3600, ext. 4765 or 4745.

Service Features

Assessment and training on the use of ventilators in a home setting for the purpose of enhancing independence upon the patient's return to the community
Education and training for both the patient and caregiver(s) about the disease, how to care for personal and equipment needs and how to handle emergency situations
Recommendations by the service team for modifications to community living environments and for mobility and communication devices to enhance a patient's independence
Assistance with arrangements for community support services, including referrals to qualified local physicians for ongoing medical follow-up
Regularly after discharge, then every 12 months, patients return for follow-up reassessments; short-stay re-admission may be offered if necessary
Access to Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care funding for ventilatory support equipment
An Oxygen Clinic and Tracheostomy Clinic are available on an out-patient basis to provide follow up for patients able to live in the community

Eligibility

Patients of West Park's Home Ventilator Training Service are:

18 years of age and older who require mechanical ventilation for all or part of the day
willing to participate in the program
medically stable
cognitively stable (or have a documented substitute decision-maker)
able to direct their own care
able to return to the community with established discharge support

Accommodation costs

The cost of medical and professional care in standard ward accommodation (where three to four people share one room) is covered for patients with a valid Ontario Health Card issued by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
In-patients unable to return to an independent lifestyle upon completion of the program and who are awaiting placement in a facility that provides an appropriate level of care will be charged a daily chronic care co-payment set by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. For information on this fee, please contact our Financial Services office at (416) 243-3600 ext. 2074.