Ambulance Services Announcement
For the Attention of Hospital Board Chairs, CEOs, OHA Board of Directors and CACN Members
From Hilary Short, President and CEO
Ambulance Services Announcement
On February 21, 2006 during the 2006 Ontario Good Roads Association/Rural Ontario Municipal Association (OGRA/ROMA) combined conference Premier Dalton McGuinty committed $300 million to achieve a more equitable sharing of the cost of municipal land ambulances by 2008.
In 1998 land ambulance services were transferred to municipalities with a cost sharing agreement in place. However municipalities have long contended that current funding does not cover all costs. As a result of the Premier's announcement, annual funding for the land ambulance service is estimated to reach $280 million this year, $333 million in 2007 and $385 million in 2008. Minister Smitherman was also on hand at the announcement and stated that his government “continues to work with municipalities to enhance the delivery of land ambulance services for the benefit of all Ontario residents”.
As health care services becomes increasingly integrated across the continuum of care, patient transport systems become progressively more integral to delivery of patient care. Efficient and effective interfacility transfers have been a long-standing issue for our hospitals and OHA has long advocated for the resolution to this issue. To this end, OHA’s Interfacility Transfer Working Group, comprised of hospital representatives, developed a white paper titled “Non-emergency transfer issues for Ontario hospitals” in September 2004. This document was shared with senior Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care officials for their consideration and can be found at www.oha.com
In March 2005, Dr. Chris Mazza, CEO, Ontario Air Ambulance was named Strategic Lead, Provincial Transport Medicine Systems with a focus on assisting the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care with ensuring the governments current transformation agenda is a success in relation to a patient transport system.
The OHA and its member hospital representatives continue to work with Dr. Mazza and looks forward to learning more about the work that is being done to develop solutions to this issue.
For further information please contact Lorraine Ladha, Senior Consultant, Regional Member Services at 416-205-1330 or lladha@oha.com.