Date Added: 12/26/2009
Posted by:
 administrator
 supporthitug.org

Author/Source:
 Janet D

Viewed: 418 times

Introduction

This Report investigates the ER/ALC strategy in great details. It provides an overview of the investments made by the McGuinty government, ALC challenges, strategies adopted to reduce Emergency Room (ER) backlog and move patients that are designated requiring Alternate Level of Care to their designated destination.

At this time it is important to note the people who participated in this research report.

* Dr Kevin Smith - President and CEO of St. Joseph's Healthcare, Lead of the expert panel on Alternate Level of Care
* Ontario Hospital Association
* Ontario Association of Non Profit Homes and Services for Seniors.
* eHealth Ontario
* Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network

Interviews were conducted with the above mentioned organization/people to collect relevant research information. This report has been developed after analyzing all the information provided. This report is the thoughts and the work of the author only. For further information or to comment kindly send an email to support@hitug.org.

History and Overview

The McGunity Government has identified reducing wait times as one of its most important healthcare priorities.
If one looks at the Ontario wait times website you will find two types of wait time information - Emergency room wait time, and Surgery and Diagnostic imaging wait time.

Prior to 2004, clinicians in Ontario were managing wait lists on paper without any standards either provincial or clinical. The province had no way of knowing how many patients were on the wait list and who was waiting for what service. However that changed in 2004, with the support of Premier Dalton McGuinty, the former Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, George Smitherman and the Associate Deputy Minister for Health and Long-Term Care, Hugh McLeod, an agenda was set to transform healthcare for all Ontarians. Focus was now shifted for the first time to the patient and a number of initiatives were started to move Ontario to a more patient-centered care model. Dr. Alan Hudson was hired to lead the Access to Care and Wait Times initiatives and in November 2004, Ontario's Wait Time Strategy was launched.

The Wait Time Strategy started with identifying the different waits, initially the focus was on the total time a patient had to wait from the time a decision to treat was taken to the time the treatment was completed. This was referred to as Surgical Wait Time and for the information system was also known as Wait 2. In December 2006, Wait 2 was expanded to track the time between when a diagnostic scan was ordered and when it was completed.

To read more select: Report on ER/ALC Strategy