FEATURE STORY / EVOLVING PATIENT CARE
S
tories like Bernice's used to
be more common in Ontario
health care. Over the last several
years the Ontario government
has remained focussed on
transforming the province`s health
care system in a substantial way. This
transformation is designed, in part, to save
patients like Bernice from these types of
outcomes.
This would be a tough assignment
under the best of circumstances. But
when you factor in a global recession and
a population that is both getting older
and living longer the task becomes harder
still. A December 2012 study entitled
“Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health
Care in Canada” reports that the signs are
indicating that the change is positive.
As compared to 1993 data, wait
times have increased across the country.
This makes sense in light of demographic
realities. The good news for Ontarians is
that the time between a family doctor’s
referral to specialist care and that treatment
taking place have grown by the lowest
percentage in the country. In both British
Columbia and Ontario the wait time grew
by 64% from 1993 to 2012. Across the
country, wait times grew by 90%, led by
New Brunswick where wait times grew by
nearly 200%.
Another relevant metric is access to
a primary care medical doctor. Between
2008 and 2012 the Ontario population
ro