Thursday, March 15, 2007
For the Attention of
Hospital Board Chairs, CEOs, CFOs and
OHA Board of Directors
Anthony Dale,
Vice President, Policy and Public Affairs
MOHLTC Launches Independent Council and New Wait Times Website
The provincial government is responding to former Senator Michael Kirby’s recent review of Ontario’s Wait Time Information System with the creation of an independent Wait Time Data Certification Council and a redesigned wait times reporting website, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care George Smitherman announced today.
The new Data Certification Council will periodically review how wait time information is collected and reported before it is displayed on the website.
The council will consist of Hilary Short, President and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association, Michael Decter, Chair of Cancer Quality Council of Ontario and Graham Scott, Chair of the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
The ministry has also relaunched a more user-friendly version of www.ontariowaittimes.com that measures the wait time for selected procedures from the decision to treat until the treatment is completed, as recommended by both Kirby and Auditor General Jim McCarter. The site contains updated wait time numbers, uses simpler language to explain data to the public and features new consumer and health care provider sections.
More information about the announcement can be found under “News Media” at
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/ or by contacting Chris McPherson, OHA Public Affairs at 416-205-1305 (email: cmcpherson@oha.com).