Issue link: http://clhia.uberflip.com/i/206673
healthcare service). This allows the funding body (government, insurer, family, etc.) to have some degree of oversight over how the funds are being spent, while providing incentives for providers to compete and innovate for the benefit of patients. It should be noted that this represents a fundamental shift in how governments currently fund other forms of healthcare such as hospitals and existing longterm care facilities. Recommendations The CLHIA recommends that a patient centered approach form the core of Canada's approach to long-term care service delivery. Any funding of long-term care should be directed to individuals rather than funding institutions directly. The CLHIA recommends that Canadians be empowered to make choices under a patient centered care approach, including whether to obtain care at home or in an institution setting. 4. RESTRUCTURING OF LONG-TERM CARE TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTINUUM OF CARE Long-term care is a continuum that includes various degrees of support through informal care, home care and institutional care. Unfortunately, the current system does not reflect this. Canadians currently have a very siloed system marked by a lack of coordination between institutional structures. As a result, particularly from a patient perspective, the system is complex to navigate. This complexity increases stress on the individual and those that act of behalf of the patient to help with care needs (e.g., informal caregivers). The lack of coordination across various institutional supports also leads to significant inefficiencies in the system as different types of care are provided without an overall coordinated approach. As a result, resources are not optimally allocated to where they are needed most and duplication can occur. It is important that we focus on ways to seamlessly transition individuals along the continuum as their needs change. A key implication of this recommendation is that change to the current system is required to break down the silos that exist. One model that shows promise in this regard is all-in-one or holistic organizations that provide the entire continuum of services to individuals. International experience, such as in New Zealand and Australia, has shown that care provided across the continuum can be extremely successful both from a cost and quality of life perspective. Reform that moves Canada from its current fragmented system into a more uniform and coordinated system would yield benefits for both patients and providers of care. Organizations that provide the full range of services or can demonstrate that they effectively and efficiently integrate with other organizations along the continuum of care should be encouraged over siloed operations. In particular, the allocation of potential funding from government should favour those that are part of a formal network of organizations, or organizations that offer the full range of care options over those that do not. 10