Ontario Long-Term Care Integrated Technology Solutions Program

All homes that have a direct funding agreement are eligible, so there is no need to apply. The funding constitutes a one-time transfer payment program under the Letter of Agreement for Ministry Direct Funding to LTC homes, and unused funding will be recovered as part of the annual reconciliation process.

Eligible LTC homes receive funding based on the number of licensed beds as of April 1 each year.

• Funding will be effective from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2026.
• Years 1 and 2 (2024-2026): $1.13 in per diem funding or $30,000 whichever is greater.

An average-size home with approximately 130 beds would receive $53,618 in funding in 2024-2026.

In order to access the available funding, funds must be allocated towards eligible expenditures. These include solutions that now qualify under expanded rules and the following eligible technologies previously listed under the former MST and CST programs:

• Computer Prescriber Order Entry (CPOE) System or e-Prescribing
• Electronic Medication Administration Record System (eMAR)
• Machine-Readable Coding for Medication Administration
• Automated Dispensing Cabinet (ADC)
• Electronic Clinical Decision Support System (eCDSS)

LTC homes can choose from computer-based programs and software that support the following:

• Optimizing medication regimes
• Supporting LTC staff in facilitating secure and accurate handling of prescriptions
• Accurate administration of medication
• Oversight and monitoring of the medication use process
• Improved functioning of the medication management system
• Focused resident data reports/summaries and data analysis within electronic health records to assist health care providers in implementing evidence-based clinical guidelines at the point-of-care
• Streamlined workflow management with clinical workflow solutions that enable enhanced quality of care for residents as well as other related digital software and applications for specific conditions common to LTC residents

Eligible technologies can include the following:

• Clinical decision support tools such as order set checklists, protocols, pathways, documents and other related software and applications that provide evidence-based and best practices clinical content at the point-of-care for staff serving LTC residents.

Any remaining funds may be used for the following:

• Computers, computing devices and applications specifically dedicated for use by nursing and personal care staff in the assessment, planning, providing, assisting, evaluation, and/or documentation of the medical, nursing, and personal care needs of residents, and for the creation and maintenance of resident records.

LTC licensees must report expenditures pertaining to their ITS expenses on a separate line in Section I Part A of the licensee’s audited Long-Term Care Home Annual Report for a defined 12-month period, in accordance with the form and manner set out in the “Long-Term Care Home Annual Report Technical Instructions and Guidelines.”

LTC homes will also be required to complete a supplementary report in Year 1 (2024-2025), in the form and manner provided by the ministry, and submit this to the ministry on or before January 31, 2025, to identify:

• The types of tools and technologies purchased for implementation, including the name of the vendor
• Amount of funding spent by year-end
• How the program funding has improved the quality of care provided in the home

This program is treated as an extension of the previous programs so there is no separate application and no assessments needed.

Closed-loop medication management is a fully electronic, integrated and automated method of tracking, managing, and documenting medication prescribing and dispensing. In this process, accuracy and safety are primary objectives.

There should be a seamless flow of both resident and medication information between the various technologies. Standalone technologies that do not transmit information regarding both resident and medication do not fall under the category of close-loop medication management.

CPOE is the electronic method by which clinicians and care team members enter, send, and manage medical orders in inpatient, long-term care, and ambulatory settings.

Click here and fill out the request form to speak with a specialist about how you can benefit from the Ontario ITS program.