Communications

Ontario Hospital Association Welcomes Auditor General’s 2007 Annual Report


Ontario Hospital Association
200 Front Street West, Suite 2800
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3L1
Tel: (416) 205-1345 Fax: (416) 205-1360
Visit our Web Site: http://www.oha.com

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

TORONTO – Today, Ontario’s Auditor General released his 2007 Annual Report, a chapter of which examined the management and use of surgical facilities by Ontario’s hospitals. The report noted that hospitals and the government have partnered to develop Ontario’s Wait Times Strategy – an initiative that is reducing the length of time patients wait for priority procedures – while also noting that more work needs to be done to further improve access to care.

“Ontario’s hospitals welcome the Auditor General’s recommendations, and plan to review each one of them very carefully,” said Hilary Short, President and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA).

To date, the OHA and Ontario’s hospitals have worked with their partners to improve wait times management and infection control processes by:

      • Implementing recommendations from the Surgical Process Analysis and Improvement Expert Panel and General Surgery Expert Panel
      • Working with Peri-operative Improvement Expert Coaching Teams
      • Supporting the Wait Time Information System and the Surgical Efficiency Targets Program
      • Hosting educational sessions, including a videoconference in November 2007 on the Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee’s (PIDAC) Best Practices for Cleaning, Disinfection and Sterilization in All Health Care Settings manual

Ontario’s hospitals are leaders in adopting evidence-based leading practices wherever possible in order to promote the safety of patients and staff. In response to recommendations made by the Auditor General in his 2006 Annual Report, the OHA worked with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to ensure that leading practices related to the procurement and use of CT/MRI scanners were shared across the hospital sector. Similar, comprehensive activities are being planned by the OHA to respond to this year’s report.

“Our hospitals are among the most efficient in the country, but we are always looking for new ways to enhance our services,” said Short. “In the time ahead, the OHA plans to offer useful education related to wait times management and infection control practices to ensure that patient care in Ontario is the best that it can be.”

For further information:
Amy Ouellette, OHA Public Affairs
416-205-1433