Londoners with complex health needs will soon start to get access to better coordinated care, Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews announced Friday.



This Spring, the first of 100 or 150 patients will meet with teams of providers to figure out how they can access all the care they need without ending up so often in hospital or emergency rooms.



The program, called Health Link, has already been rolled out in 46 Ontario communities. The price tag for each is small, about $660,000, but Matthews predicts the payoff will be big.



One-third of hospital care is for 1% of the population. The goal is to help those patients and reduce their need for hospital care.



The first focus will be on patients with heart failure and COPD.



Taking the lead in London will be the Thames Valley Family Health Team.