McGuinty Govenment Continues to Improve ER Performance
November 15, 2012
Patients in North Simcoe Muskoka are spending less time in emergency rooms (ERs), enabling them to receive treatment faster and return home sooner, freeing up hospital time to treat other patients.
As of September 2012 time spent for admitted patients in the Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital ER has decreased by 2.6 hours or 8 per cent from four years ago (April 2008). Time spent in the ER for non-admitted high acuity patients at Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare - Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Site, decreased by 1.4 hours which represents a 19 per cent improvement since April 2008. And at Georgian Bay General Hospital, time spent in the ER for non-admitted low acuity patients decreased by 1.9 hours representing a 40 per cent improvement since April 2008.
Ontario is building on the success of its ER performance improvement program to support hospitals facing the biggest ER challenges. This year, the province is supporting the North Simcoe Muskoka acute care hospitals to improve ER performance.
North Simcoe Muskoka’s portion of that support amounts to $5,631,500, broken down as follows:
Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital $1,319,400
Georgian Bay General Hospital $1,316,400
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre $1,232,200
Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare $926,500
Collingwood General & Marine Hospital $837,000
Helping patients receive treatment faster in the ER is part of Ontario’s Action Plan for Health Care to ensure that Ontarians are accessing the right care, at the right time, and in the right place.
QUOTES
“Ontario’s emergency rooms are reducing wait times and treating more patients. That means Ontarians requiring medical attention are now being seen faster and spending less time in emergency rooms – which is part of our commitment in the Action Plan for Health Care to ensure people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”
-Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
“North Simcoe Muskoka’s emergency rooms are making steady progress in improving their performance to treat patients better and faster. While our numbers speak for themselves, these improvements go hand in hand with quality care and I’m proud of what they’ve accomplished so far."
-Robert Morton, Chair, North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN
QUICK FACTS
- Time spent in the ER has decreased by 1.2 hours over the last four years — with approximately 86 per cent of people receiving treatment within target time frames
- In February 2009, Ontario set ER length of stay targets of four hours for patients with minor conditions and eight hours for patients with complex conditions.
- Emergency rooms have seen a steady increase in complex patients, with the most serious cases increasing by over 35 per cent since April 2008. Despite this increase, patients are spending less time waiting to receive care.
- Of the 241,902 North Simcoe Muskoka ER visits last year, 89% were addressed and treated within the target time frames.
LEARN MORE
Learn about alternatives to a hospital ER.
Find out more about the reporting of the time spent in ERs.
As one of 14 LHINs across Ontario, the North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN plans, integrates and funds local health services including hospitals, community care access centres, community health centres, long-term care homes, mental health and addiction programs and a variety of community support services agencies.
Susan French, Communications Coordinator
North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN, 705-326-7750 x234
susan.french@lhins.on.ca
NSM LHIN Newsroom
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