OVH Care@Home and OVH Care@Home+ are care programs offered by Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH) designed to support patients in managing their health from the comfort of their homes with additional care for both the patient and the caregiver.

The programs allow patients to return home at the earliest possible time where recovery is optimal and they and their families are most comfortable in a familiar environment. Patients will be assessed for care needs by a hospital care coordinator in collaboration with an experienced service care provider, and service plans are developed and shared with patients and care givers or substitute decision-makers before discharge. Services are covered by special funding through the Ministry of Health and tailored to meet unique needs.

Services include:

Personal support services, including:

  • Personal hygiene activities
    • Routine personal activities of living
  • Assisting a person with any of the activities referred to in the first two items above
  • Training a person to carry out or assist with any of the activities referred to in the first two items above
  • Providing prescribed equipment, supplies or other goods
  • Services prescribed as personal support services

Innovation and technology, as follows:

  • Contracted service providers are expected to use innovative technological approaches to care for patients (e.g., virtual care) where appropriate, to manage patients’ care in the home, while ensuring that the goals of the program are met.

Professional services, including:

  • Nursing services
  • Social work services
  • Dietetics services
  • Providing prescribed equipment, supplies or other goods
  • Services prescribed as professional services

Behavioural supports, including:

  • Behavioural Safety Plan
  • Behaviour Support Plans
  • Functional Behaviour Assessments
  • Discharge Reports/Progress Reports

Medical equipment and supplies pharmacy (medications covered for eligible patients through Ontario Health issued “drug card”)

For more information about the two streams within the program, please refer to the attached below:

OVH Care@Home: Information for patients, families and caregivers

OVH Care@Home+: Information for patients, families and caregivers

How to access these services

You can receive OVH Care@Home or OVH Care@Home+ through:

  • Referral from your health care provider: Your family doctor or specialist can refer you if they believe you would benefit from virtual care and remote monitoring.
  • Hospital discharge: If you are hospitalized at Markham Stouffville Hospital, our care team may arrange enrollment in these programs as part of your discharge plan to ensure a smooth transition from hospital to home.