RNAO-PointClickCare collaboration enhances LTC homes’ compliance programs

By: Rita Wilson, RN MN MEd., eHealth program manager, RNAO


A recent partnership between RNAO and PointClickCare (PCC) enhances long-term care (LTC) homes’ compliance with two of the four required (clinical) programs—falls  prevention and pain management—that are mandated by Ontario’s Long-Term Care Homes Act (LTCHA) and its Regulation. Falls are the leading cause of injury among older Canadians.(1) According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, 20-30 per cent of older adults experience one or more falls each year and falls contribute to 95 per cent of all hip fractures in Canada.(1) An evidence-based falls prevention program that incorporates a comprehensive falls risk assessment and interventions that target the older adult’s risk factors is strongly supported by research.(2) 

Pain is also a public health concern due to its high prevalence and impact on Canadians.  The Canadian Pain Task Force reported that approximately 20 per cent of Canadians live with chronic pain.(3) This condition is more prevalent among Canadians who are 65 years or older; approximately one third of whom experience chronic pain.(3) There are significant economic and human costs associated with chronic pain, including reduced physical activity and quality of life, and increased mental health challenges, such as anxiety and depression.(3) Research supports the implementation of an interprofessional approach for the effective assessment and management of pain.(4)

Under the LTCHA, LTC homes must comply with the stipulations outlined for each required program with respect to policies and procedures, documentation, assessments, prevention or management strategies and outcome evaluation. The RNAO-PCC partnership supports this process through the integration of Order Sets derived from RNAO’s best practice guidelines (BPG) within the PCC software application. BPG Order Sets promote the use of standardized, evidence-based assessments and interventions and ensure comprehensive and timely documentation that automates data collection for outcome evaluation.

In partnership with PCC, RNAO established an eight-month demonstration project to allow for the small-scale implementation of BPG Order Sets related to falls prevention and management, as well as the assessment and management of pain. Four organizations were selected through a request-for-proposal process to participate in the initiative. They include Region of Niagara, UniversalCare, Villa Charities and United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. The participating organizations attended a two-day training session in January 2020. Each of the organizations was given the choice to implement the BPG Order Sets to support either their pain or falls prevention program. An RNAO LTC best practice co-ordinator provided individualized coaching to the project lead, as needed, to support the implementation. A total of six homes participated in the project. Due to the pandemic, the implementation plan “Go Live” date was significantly delayed. 

The falls prevention and management BPG Order Sets were implemented by the Region of Niagara (Gilmore Lodge, Rapelje Lodge, and Woodlands of Sunset) and UniversalCare (Tilbury Manor) in August 2020 and September 2020, respectively. These homes also leveraged key functionality in the PCC software to automate their data collection for key process and outcome indicators. These sites, all Long-Term Care Best Practice Spotlight Organizations (LTC-BPSO) are currently submitting their data to RNAO’s Nursing Quality Indicators for Reporting and Evaluation (NQuIRE) data system for ongoing monitoring and quality improvement.

Having successfully implemented the falls BPG Order Sets across the five homes that participated in the demonstration project, UniversalCare and the Region of Niagara are planning to deploy the Order Sets across their remaining 15 homes (combined). Each of these organizations shares its experiences and successes.

In January 2021, Villa Charities (Villa Colombo Toronto) began using the pain BPG Order Sets for new admissions. A controlled and phased implementation approach supports staffing challenges encountered due to the pandemic.


1. Public Health Agency of Canada. (2015). You CAN prevent falls! Retrieved from https://bit.ly/3jQXYko

2. Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2017). Preventing falls and reducing injury from falls (3rd ed.).  Retrieved from https://rnao.ca/sites/rnao-ca/files/bpg/Preventing_Falls_FINAL_WEB.pdf

3. Canadian Pain Task Force. (2019). Chronic pain in Canada: Laying a foundation for action. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2LVYn8x

4. Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2013). Assessment and management of pain (3rd ed.). Retrieved from https://rnao.ca/sites/rnao-ca/files/AssessAndManagementOfPain2014.pdf.