Communications

ICES Report Sets Stage for Action on Shorter Wait Times


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Wednesday, April 6, 2005

Landmark Report Details Full Scope of Challenge Ahead

TORONTO -Today’s report by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) is extremely important because it sets the stage for implementing an action plan to reduce wait times for five priority areas identified by the Ontario government, the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) said today.

"Everyone in Ontario deserves equal access to the health services they need" said OHA President and CEO Hilary Short. "Ontario hospitals are deeply committed to reducing wait times in the government’s five priority areas, as well as all the other medically necessary services our patients rely on."

The release of the report by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Services (ICES), "Access to Health Services in Ontario" is vitally important to the development and implementation of an action plan to reduce wait times because for the first time, a system-wide analysis of the facts about wait times for the five priority areas identified by government are known. Highlights from the report’s recommendations include:

  • Funding to provide all Ontarians with equal access to the five key services, regardless of geographic location;
  • Targeted "one-time" funding infusions to shorten prolonged and/or rapidly expanding waiting lists;
  • Publishing annual provincial reports on access to health care in Ontario, initially for the five key services, but expanding the reports over time to include other priority areas;
  • Developing an electronic provincial wait list clinical registry;
  • Implementing, with Ontario-specific modifications if necessary, existing patient urgency prioritization systems for selected services where feasible and appropriate; and
  • Developing and implementing Ontario-specific wait time benchmarks, using work completed in other jurisdictions.


"There is no quick fix when it comes to making progress in reducing waiting times," added Short. "In the upcoming Budget we urge the government to provide funding for hospitals that meets the real cost of providing care, so that working together, we can implement the report’s recommendations and achieve our shared goals."

Ontario’s hospitals are already working with the government and other partners in developing the plan to reduce waiting times in the five key areas identified by government. The OHA is leading a "Wait Times Reference Group" working with Dr. Alan Hudson and members of the Health Results Team. Murray Martin, President and CEO of Hamilton Health Sciences Centre chairs the Group, and membership is made up of hospital leaders from the across the province.

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For further information:
OHA Public Affairs
416-205-1348