North, A. (2011, February 10). Ohio “heartbeat bill” attacks roe v. wade. Retrieved from http://jezebel.com /5757273/ohio- heartbeat-bill-attacks-roe-v-wade
INTRODUCTION
There are two major reasons for the strain on Ontario’s healthcare system. One is the lack of access to health services, the other is the increase in our population, especially of those over the age of 45 (Ministry of Finance, 2012).
There are approximately 915,000 Ontarians who do not have a family doctor (Canada Newswire, 2011). These people must rely on walk-in clinics and the emergency department of their local hospital for medical care. As a result, patients are often seen by a different doctor at each visit. These doctors do not have a comprehensive understanding of the patients overall health and therefore might be hesitant to refer them to a specialist for further care. When symptoms persist, a patient may need to make several trips to a clinic or emergency room before a referral is made. The time lost in this process may be the difference between a medical condition that is treatable and one that is not.
While our population continues to grow, the strain on our health care system also increases. In 2000 Ontario’s population was 11,410,046 (CanadaGenWeb). It reached 13,505,900 on July 1, 2012 (Ministry of Finance, 2012). This increase is one of the reasons why there is a greater demand for surgical services. The aging population is another. Historically, as patients age they require more healthcare.
Recognizing the importance of reversing the trend of lengthy wait times, the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC) began examining ways to reduce wait times for surgery. This report examines the progress that has been made, and obstacles that hinder attempts to reduce surgical wait times in Ontario.
There are approximately 915,000 Ontarians who do not have a family doctor (Canada Newswire, 2011). These people must rely on walk-in clinics and the emergency department of their local hospital for medical care. As a result, patients are often seen by a different doctor at each visit. These doctors do not have a comprehensive understanding of the patients overall health and therefore might be hesitant to refer them to a specialist for further care. When symptoms persist, a patient may need to make several trips to a clinic or emergency room before a referral is made. The time lost in this process may be the difference between a medical condition that is treatable and one that is not.
While our population continues to grow, the strain on our health care system also increases. In 2000 Ontario’s population was 11,410,046 (CanadaGenWeb). It reached 13,505,900 on July 1, 2012 (Ministry of Finance, 2012). This increase is one of the reasons why there is a greater demand for surgical services. The aging population is another. Historically, as patients age they require more healthcare.
Recognizing the importance of reversing the trend of lengthy wait times, the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC) began examining ways to reduce wait times for surgery. This report examines the progress that has been made, and obstacles that hinder attempts to reduce surgical wait times in Ontario.
Ministry Of Health. (2010, November 2). Your Ontario health care options - intro . Retrieved fromhttp:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrlJ6WhpItQ&list=UUZ1X5tQSZwjNstFNLBMmf6A&index=12
DISCLAIMER: This web page was created in response to a college course requirement by a student of the Health Informatics Management degree program at Conestoga College for the purpose of achieving an academic grade only. No claims are made of being an authority on the subject matter contained within. Information within this website is not meant to act as a replacement for medical advice.