North York Complex Care

Complex Continuing Care is designed for individuals who have left acute hospital care but still require intensive monitoring, specialized treatments, and coordinated therapies. CCC supports patients with complex medical conditions who need the kind of infrastructure and staffing that only a hospital setting can provide.

Some individuals transition out of CCC into other levels of care; others remain in CCC permanently due to the nature of their health needs.

Complex Care is not for people with basic personal care needs. It’s for those who require a clinical environment due to the nature or severity of their conditions. Examples include:

• Advanced neurological disorders (e.g., ALS, Parkinson’s, acquired brain injuries)
• Spinal cord injuries or degenerative muscular diseases
• Complications following surgery or trauma
• Serious heart, lung, or kidney conditions
• Need for IV medications, wound vacs, ventilators, or tube feeding
• Multi-system illness with unpredictable symptoms

These patients typically need a doctor on site daily, along with skilled nursing, allied health support, and access to hospital-grade equipment.

Complex Care is delivered exclusively in hospital settings, typically through dedicated Complex Continuing Care units. This care cannot be accessed directly—admission is arranged through a hospital care team, usually during discharge planning from acute care.

Some CCC facilities in Ontario include:

• West Park Healthcare Centre – Toronto
• Bridgepoint Active Healthcare – Toronto
• Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare – Windsor
• St. Joseph’s Health Care – London
• Providence Care – Kingston

To find out what CCC options exist in your region, speak to your hospital care team or discharge planner. They can help identify services within your local hospital catchment area.

Every patient receives an individualized care plan that may include:

• Daily physician involvement
• 24/7 registered nursing
• Medication and symptom monitoring
• IV therapy and complex wound care
• Respiratory support or tracheostomy care
• Occupational, physical, and speech therapy
• Nutritional support, including tube feeding
• Mental health and social work support
• Palliative or end-of-life care when appropriate

These services are coordinated by an interdisciplinary team trained in managing high-acuity patients who can’t safely transition elsewhere.

That depends. For some people, Complex Care is a transition step—a temporary stay while they stabilize enough to move into long-term care or return home. For others, it becomes a long-term solution, particularly when their condition is too complex to manage elsewhere.

Hospital-based care coordinators will work with patients and families to decide what’s next and help plan the transition if appropriate.

If you’re unsure what type of care is appropriate for your loved one—or how to navigate transitions after a hospital stay—our Consulting Services can help you explore options and prepare for next steps.

You may also want to learn more about:

• Transitional Care
• Long-Term Care Homes
• Palliative Care
• Retirement Homes