RCM – Referral and Program Information

Remote Care Monitoring Referral Form 

*Please note:  Referrals must be submitted by a healthcare professional or individual who is working with the client in a formal capacity (e.g. Ontario Health at Home, community responders, etc.)

RCM Devices

There is no cost to the client to participate in the RCM program. 

SOS/Falls/GPS Locating Pendant (OdysseyGo)

• Provides escalation for falls and SOS (non-falls-related emergency) alerts
• Canada-wide coverage (dependent on cellular signal)
• GPS locating and geofence (virtual perimeter) features for clients with a wandering history

Medication Dispensing Device (Karie/Spencer) 

• Provides a secure means to manage medications by dispensing appropriate medications at the prescribed time
• Device will alert clients to take medications at the prescribed time using a flashing light and chime
• If a client does not dispense the medication within a set period of time, the TGHC team will notify clients and/or assigned caregivers, so the issue can be quickly addressed
• Please note that although the RCM Team can determine whether someone dispensed the medications, we do not know if the client ingested them

Eligibility Criteria

• 60+ years of age
• Valid OHIP
• Lives Alone
• Have an Escalation Contact
• Stable housing
• 3+ chronic conditions; and: 1 encounter with emergent/urgent care services within the past 1 month related to any of the listed conditions.
• If being referred for the OdysseyGO for falls or SOS, clients must live alone. Clients can live with caregivers for the geo-fence feature as well as automated medication dispensing.

Pendant – SOS/FALLS     

• Recurrent falls within the past month
• Lives alone in their home
• Sufficient hearing and vocal abilities to communicate via pendant (with or without assistive devices such as hearing aids, text-to-voice devices, etc.)
• Ability to charge device daily or have a support within the community who can assist.

Pendant – GEO-FENCE

• Wandering history (1 or more incidents) within the past month.
• Lives alone or with caregiver(s)
• Ability to charge device daily or have a support in the community who can assist.

Automated Medication Dispensing

• Medication adherence due to forgetfulness
• Lives alone or with caregivers
• Escalation contact who can commit to visiting the client to support with medication, if required.
• No history of intentional overdose(s) (i.e. suicide attempts).

Special Considerations 

SOS/Falls/GPS Locating Pendant (OdysseyGo) pendant 
Due to cellular and magnetic features, individuals with cardiac implantation devices (e.g. pacemakers) are ineligible for the SOS/Falls/GPS Locating Pendant (OdysseyGo). Other devices offered by the program do not have an impact and can still be considered.

Medication Dispensing Device

• Best suited for clients whose medication non-compliance is due to forgetfulness
• Client must be willing to take their routine medications and possess the insight to the fact that they need to take medications
• Client must have enough awareness to recognize the prompts from the machine and will recognize the alarm and lights as time to dispense their medications
• Client must have an escalation point in the community (e.g., family member, friend, caseworker, etc.), who can respond in a timely manner. They may be asked to assist with any device troubleshooting or to check on the client if too many medications are missed
• Clients who have a history of overdosing are not appropriate for the device, as the RCM team cannot control someone’s access to their medications
• Client’s home must be safe for storage of the medication dispensing device. For example, the home must be free from current pest infestations (e.g. cockroaches), as pests can cause the machine to malfunction
• Client or social supports must be present at home to receive regular deliveries (i.e. every 1-4 weeks depending on the types of medications) for medication cartridge refills
• Client’s home must have a safe pathway for deliveries of medication cartridge refills (i.e. safe entryway, pathway free from clutter)
• Client to be assessed by Toronto Grace Health Centre’s pharmacist to determine if their medications are appropriate for the device. Please note that the medication dispensing device is not able to support certain medications, including:
  • As-needed medications (i.e. not prescribed on a routine schedule)
  • Liquid medications
  • Medications that require special preparation (e.g., crushing)

Additional Resources: 

Program Brochures: 

Remote Care Monitoring Program – Brochure (English)

Remote Care Monitoring Program – Brochure (French)

Falls Pendant Information: 

RCM Falls Pendant (OdysseyGo) – User Manual  

RCM Falls Pendant (OdysseyGo) – How to Video