- by Denae Jenings, BScN, R.N.

I write today as a Registered Nurse, patient advocate, community partner and as someone interested in improving the health care we receive in our region. For most of my professional career I have worked in either the publicly funded health system that is accessible to us all, or provided supplementary coverage to fill a gap in home care.

For professionals and patients alike, it often seems that the system is in a constant state of transition. Just as we started understand how Local Health Integration Network's function, the Ontario government is now transitioning to Health Teams. For patients and families currently seeking care, they do not have the time to wait for policy implementation and are often left trying to find support on their own in the interim.

Though our health system is publicly accessible, there have always been private care options available for those with additional insurance, can pay out of pocket or for those who choose to supplement care. But these families are often on their own about who they hire. I worry that there will be people who take advantage of this uncertainty to fill a gap in home care. Private coverage is not as regulated as public options.

As a former franchise owner, and now independent nursing care provider, I recommend that patients and families ask very important questions when seeking additional coverage. I encourage people to consider who will be responsible for creating a proper care plan, which is where it all starts. Is it someone focused on a loved one, or someone who is focused on their own bottom-line? Do they have the professional background to create an effective plan? Is the provider properly insured with medical liability? Are they willing to provide the credentials of their team who will be invited in to a home while caring for a loved one? The motivation of some who participate in the private system can be difficult to determine but the qualifications of the personal support workers, RPNs and RNs are verifiable and easy to prove.

I encourage patients and families to ask tough questions of providers when seeking out supplemental care and request proof. In uncertain times, there will be some whose intentions are uncertain. The care of our families however, should be certain.