Transitional Care Centre: Supporting Ontario’s Healthcare System by Easing Hospital Pressures
With growing demand on Ontario’s healthcare system’s hospital capacity, ensuring patients receive the right care in the right setting is more important than ever. Carefirst Transitional Care Centre (TCC) supports this by providing Alternate Level of Care (ALC) for individuals who are medically stable and no longer require acute hospital stay, but are not yet ready to return home.
By offering a safe, supportive environment for recuperation and rehabilitation, the TCC serves as a critical bridge between hospital and home. It helps hospitals free-up much-needed acute care beds for patients in urgent need, while giving recovering individuals the opportunity to regain strength, independence, and confidence at their own pace.
Our multi-disciplinary care team works closely with hospitals, primary care providers, and families to ensure a smooth and timely transition. Through individualized care plans, 24/7 nursing and personal care support, as well as physiotherapy, dietitian, and social work services, the TCC helps clients achieve their recovery goals in a compassionate, client-centered setting designed to promote holistic wellness and reduce the risk of hospital readmission.
In 2024, the Centre responded to 540 service inquiries. Of the 97 successful new applications, about 40% is directly transferred from hospitals, reflecting our ongoing efforts to help alleviate ALC pressures within the healthcare system. Over the year, the Centre provided a total of 7,859 bed days to 120 individuals, supporting their recovery and strengthening the flow of care between hospital and community.
As part of Ontario’s broader healthcare continuum, Carefirst Transitional Care Centre continues to play an essential role in reducing system strain, improving patient flow, enhancing access to care, and overall quality and efficiency of care.