The Nova Scotia government is taking action on recommendations from a provincial health system operational review. The aim is to make the health-care system more effective, efficient and sustainable now and in the future.
The government announced Jan. 17 that all 103 recommendations made by Corpus Sanchez International in the report titled Changing Nova Scotia's Health Care System: Creating Sustainability Through
Transformation have been accepted and will begin to be implemented over the next three years.
Hants West MLA Chuck Porter, a former EHS paramedic, is pleased the government has accepted the review’s recommendations.
“This is the beginning of our forward-looking plan to make Nova Scotia a leader in healthcare delivery,” Porter said in a news release.
The review, which took two years to complete, was the most extensive ever conducted of Nova Scotia's healthcare system. The consulting team visited every facility in the province and met with frontline healthcare providers.
The administration and chairs of all nine District Health Authorities and the IWK endorsed all 103 recommendations.
Porter said that “… this is the blueprint that will ensure we have a universally accessible system in the years ahead.”
“Support the vision”
Capital District Health Authority vice-president of medicine Dr. Brendan Carr said in a Jan. 17 news release, “as health system leaders, we support the vision of transformation that focuses on quality and safety. In order for the health-care system to be truly sustainable, we must broaden our focus from the treatment of illness, to include maintaining and improving health, in partnership with our citizens.”
In the release, Premier Rodney MacDonald said that “with the information in this report, we are ready to chart a path that will ensure our health-care system is safe, accessible appropriate, effective and efficient for
generations to come.”
The recommendations outlined in the report cover every aspect of the health-care system. The report finds that the system is heavily focused hospital-based care, which is the most expensive way to deliver services. It recommends a focus on community-based care, and restructuring across the system.
In the Jan. 17 release, Health Minister Chris d'Entremont said that a health-care system is needed that supports all health-care requirements, whether it is staying healthy, living with chronic disease, or end of life care.
The report was developed with input from thousands of health-care providers and interested groups -- from every hospital across the province.
Notes aggravating factors
The document notes factors such as an aging population, poor health status of Nova Scotians, increasing demand for health services, health human resource challenges, and the cost of maintaining the system. They are seen as reasons why the system must change to continue to meet the changing health needs of residents.
In its response to the report, the province has outlined actions for four key areas: helping people stay healthy; addressing changing needs of seniors; supporting health professionals; and investing for better results. Specific initiatives include establishing a selfcare/telecare
phone line for 24/7 health advice, establishing a health human resource strategy, reviewing pharmacy and laboratory services, improving the flow of patients throughout the hospital system, and the use of non-clinical
support services.
“I am particularly excited to note that we will be engaging citizens in consultation on the development of a rural health strategy for the province, which will include addressing the issue of emergency health care,” d'Entrement said. Patients, caregivers and taxpayers all have a role in ensuring the best health-care system possible.
The Provincial Health Services Operational Review, an executive summary of the report, the province's response document and fact sheets about Nova Scotia's health-care system are available online at
www.gov.ns.ca
