Unit 7 Future Directions

Unit 7 : Week 12 and 13 The final two weeks of the course are used to identify the future direction of healthcare. I chose to focus on the backlog and wait times being seen as an outcome of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reference List Unit 7

Deloitte clearing the backlog - CMA. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://www.cma.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/Media-Releases/Deloitte-Clearing-the-Backlog.pdf

Six procedures were analyzed in relation to the backlog experienced from the pandemic. They were reviewed for the amount of days and money it would take and cost to get caught up from pre pandemic times. The six procedures were: cataract surgery, coronary artery bypass graft, hip replacement, knee replacement, MRI and cat scan.

Friedman, D. J. (n.d.). Covid-19's impact on emergency departments. CIHI. Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://www.cihi.ca/en/covid-19-resources/impact-of-covid-19-on-canadas-health-care-systems/emergency- departments

Analysis of emergency room visits during wave 1, 2, and 3 of the Covid-19 pandemic. Did people deter from using the emergency department due to the risk of obtaining covid while in the emergency room or were they listening to the public health recommendations? The emergency room visits dropped 25000 visits compared to the same time the previous year. People that came into the emergency room were waiting less time to see a physician which could have resulted in more efficient care. Also reviewing if people were more sick when they did go to the emergency room.

Hamilton Health Sciences and Cloud DX ... - youtube.com. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrvMGSscgfQ

A description of how using a nursing command center to monitor patients that are stable post operatively can help with patient flow and access to also allow more surgeries to occur. The command center can assess the patient while in their home as a device takes the patient’s vitals and reports back to the command center.

Mohammed, H. T., Hyseni, L., Bui, V., Gerritsen, B., Fuller, K., Sung, J., & Alarakhia, M. (2021). Exploring the use and challenges of implementing virtual visits during COVID-19 in primary care and lessons for sustained use. PloS one,16(6), e0253665. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253665

Exploring how the pandemic has highlighted the ability of performing virtual care visits to patients. This helps with the backlog of patients to be seen. Nurse practitioners and Physicians did highlight that some of their patients may struggle obtaining online/virtual care and this was noted as a challenge.

Patra, S. (2018). Ontario wait time strategy to solve long waiting problem. Journal of Clinical Intensive Care and Medicine (3): 27-28. https://doi.org/10.29328/journal.jcicm.1001016

Long wait times for surgeries and emergency department care have been a long standing issue in Ontario. This article discusses how the Ontario Government created a strategy to monitor, manage, and improve access to health care services including surgeries and time spent in the ER.

Vogel, L. (2020). How can Canada improve worsening wait times? CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal 192(37), E1079-E1080. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.1095895

An article interviewing a physician and a patient who was diagnosed with cancer and found out it was worse during the pandemic. This article discusses why the wait times in Canada are so long and transparency of information for wait times in Ontario. Discusses how we have learned that we can do more with virtual care and seeing patients to help alleviate some of the pressures.

Wait Times in Ontario. ontario.ca. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://www.ontario.ca/page/wait-times- ontario

An Ontario Government website used to find out wait times for surgeries or cat scans or MRIs. You can put in the location you are looking for and the website breaks down the wait time based on the priority you would be in the queue.

www.oma.org. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://www.oma.org/uploadedfiles/oma/media/public/prescription-for-ontario-doctors-5-point-plan-for-better- health-care.pdf

Five key points that physicians feel will help plan for better health care in Ontario. Reducing wait times and the backlog of services as physicians are seeing “worse off” patients from the pandemic backlog. Expand mental health and addiction services in the community, post pandemic 84% of people are experiencing mental health concerns. Improve home care and other community care. Strengthen public health and pandemic preparedness by shifting focus of funding. Give every patient a team of health-care providers and link them digitally.