Improving CAMH's Quality of Care

The integration of addiction and mental health care that occurs in Phase 1a and the redevelopment project as a whole will make client care more responsive to the populations we serve. Recognizing the co-occurrence of both mental illness and addictions, CAMH is committed to creating a system and site that eliminates the historical barriers between these treatment systems. Our new model of care as outlined in our Functional Program (Introduction available online as PDF) incorporates changes in programs and services with the creation of a central hub and the consolidation of our operations on one site. Transforming Lives Here will certainly be a dramatic visible transformation along Queen Street West; however, the most meaningful changes will be inside.

The first phase — Addictions and Mood & Anxiety

The four buildings of Phase 1a (shown below) will soon be home to CAMH's Addiction and Mood & Anxiety Programs. The design of the new 24-bed Alternate Milieu (AM) buildings includes bedrooms with private bathrooms, a quiet room to read, relax and receive visitors and communal living spaces. These home-like and comfortable units will create a more supportive therapeutic community, empowering clients to regain independence and assert control over their recovery plan. The goal is to create a natural transition toward community reintegration. Of the three new AM units in Phase 1a, two will be occupied by CAMH's Addiction Program and one by our Mood & anxiety Program.

The flexibility of the new Mood & Anxiety Alternate Milieu unit will enable CAMH clinicians to make a number of specific improvements to quality of care we offer:

• Care and treatment tailored to the individual: The home-like setting of the new AM buildings will support a variety of approaches to recovery and community re-integration. Some clients will be able to go home on weekends, or continue to stay in the unit for support while they are re-entering the work force or returning to school.
• A choice between private and community space: Many of the areas within our current building and site are ill-defined, not really public, but not truly private either. The new design philosophy emphasizes choice between explicitly public and private spaces, and CAMH's programming will support this design concept. Common kitchens and living spaces will make the new AM units more comfortable for family members and friends to visit and these public areas will be complemented by private healing gardens and private rooms, much as one would have in their own home.
• Integration, collaboration and learning: Locating the Mood & Anxiety Program alongside the Addictions Program will create opportunities for both staff and clients to benefit from joint programming and each others experience — in fact, the home-like Alternate Milieu setting is a long-standing feature of CAMH's Addictions Program which is now being applied to CAMH's other services. Co-training of Mood & Anxiety and Addictions staff will improve our ability to help those with concurrent disorders and continue CAMH's move away from silo-style treatment.
• Peer support: The hiring of a person who has come through the system and has an intimate knowledge of recovery and care in the Mood & Anxiety system will bring unique knowledge and expertise to CAMH's Mood & Anxiety staff and will assist those currently receiving care at CAMH.

The four new buildings of Phase 1a, currently under construction, not only represent the first step in CAMH’s physical transformation, they symbolize in brick and mortar the transformation of client care that we are committed to and the integration of both mental heath and addiction treatment and research and public heath policy that we are working towards.

Going further — future phases

The first phase is only the beginning. As the project advances CAMH will continue to anchor the redevelopment in how client care will improve. Some highlights of the future improvements that this project will deliver include:

• New access to programs: CAMH will increase access to care and break down silos within CAMH and in the system as a whole. We will implement a new Consultation, Assessment, Triage and Support (CATS) Program that will provide standardized assessment and will direct clients to the most appropriate program of care.
• Introduction of care facilitators: Every client will have a care facilitator responsible for ensuring they access the programs and services they need.
• New care initiatives: There will be more specialty care options including ambulatory and day programs, home treatment programs and care closer to home.
• Integrated specialty programs: CAMH will restructure specialty programs to break down barriers between programs and ensure clients have access to cross-program services. Expertise on concurrent disorders will be expanded to every program.
• Expanded research capacity and a renewed provincial role: CAMH will double its research capacity and expand education and health promotion efforts across Ontario.

Client-Centred Care

The provision of services to AM clients is based on the guidelines of a client-centered philosophy of care as expressed in the Strategic Directions of CAMH. These include:

• A client-centered focus reflects an active partnership between the person receiving care and the providers of care.
• This partnership recognizes that the client is a whole person with social, physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological needs who, wherever possible, will make informed choices about his/her care and will be an active participant in his/her care.
• This partnership extends to the participation of the client in the processes of continuous improvement.
• This partnership integrates client preferences, expressed needs, cultural beliefs and practices with the provision of care.
• Wherever possible, the program will work with those whom the client identifies as significant others throughout the care process.
• Wherever possible, the program will work in partnership with other service providers to ensure that care is comprehensive, coordinated and delivered in the appropriate environment.
• In partnership with the client, the program will strive to facilitate the individual’s achievement of his/her optimal level of functioning and will demonstrate understanding and respect for the client’s goals in this process.
• In keeping with the Centre’s academic mission that promotes scientific examination of and research into the most effective and efficient forms of care, the emphasis is on provision of evidence-based care. 

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