In tune with the saying “what’s up doc?”, Ontario is proudly declaring the following recent improvement happening with health care as well as what’s in the works for our health care system to meet the needs of Ontario’s rapidly aging population in Canada:
- Improving access to hospital care by reducing wait times
- for knee surgery by 341 days, or 83 per cent over the last five years – helping people get the surgery they need, as quickly as possible at Mount Sinai Hospital.
- Today, patients spend just over two months or 69 days waiting for knee surgery – in 2005, they would have waited over a year.
- This improvement is the largest percentage wait time reduction achieved by any Toronto hospital since Ontario started measuring wait times in 2005.
- Patients at Mount Sinai also continue to spend 71 per cent less time waiting for cancer surgery and
- 70 per cent less time waiting for cataract surgery than in 2005 at Mount Sinai .
- Ontario is a national leader in reducing wait times for five priority health services, according to the 2011 annual report card issued by the Wait Time Alliance.
- for knee surgery by 341 days, or 83 per cent over the last five years – helping people get the surgery they need, as quickly as possible at Mount Sinai Hospital.
- 94 per cent of Ontarians have a family doctor.
- Ontario is also seeking a long-term funding commitment from the federal government — Canada pays only 23 per cent of Ontario’s health costs.
- A new long-term deal should focus on giving seniors more options in their homes and communities.
The reasons for Ontario calling on the federal government to work with the provinces to deliver a new long-term deal on health care are listed here:
- The current 10-year federal health agreement expires in 2014.
- In the next 10 years, 1.6 million Ontarians will turn 65, the traditional retirement age – that’s twice as many people as between 1981 and 1991.
- According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, seniors account for 14 per cent of the population but 44 per cent of health care spending.
Please click here to find out more about Ontario’s Wait Time Strategy.
Ontario, Canada: Newsroom
News Release
Mount Sinai Leading Toronto In Wait Time Reduction
July 28, 2011
McGuinty Government Helps Hospital Improve Access To Care
Mount Sinai Hospital has reduced wait times for knee surgery by 341 days, or 83 per cent over the last five years – helping people get the surgery they need, as quickly as possible. This improvement is the largest percentage wait time reduction achieved by any Toronto hospital since Ontario started measuring wait times in 2005. Today, patients spend just over two months or 69 days waiting for knee surgery – in 2005, they would have waited over a year.These results are possible because of targeted support from the Ontario government and because the 2004 First Minister’s Health Accord invested in strategic reforms such as wait times and access to care.
Ontario is calling on the federal government to work with the provinces to deliver a new long-term deal on health care. Further health care reforms are needed to meet the needs of Ontario’s rapidly aging population. A new long term deal should focus on giving seniors more options in their homes and communities.
QUOTES
“I’m extremely proud of Mount Sinai’s accomplishment. I want to thank all of Mount Sinai Hospital’s hard-working health care professionals for making such a major improvement in reducing wait times and increasing access to care for patients. I look forward to working with Mount Sinai and other hospitals to bring wait times down even further and am calling on the federal government to renew its commitment to Ontario’s health care system”
– Deb Matthews
Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
“Mount Sinai Hospital is proud to be a partner with the government in working to improve patient access and reducing wait times to needed health care services.”
– Joseph Mapa
President and CEO, Mount Sinai Hospital
QUICK FACTS
- Ottawa recently committed to extending the six per cent annual increase in the Canada Health Transfer, but Ontario is seeking a long term commitment from the federal government – this year, it is estimated that Canada will pay only 23 per cent of Ontario’s health costs.
- The hospital performed approximately 321 knee replacement surgeries last year.
- Patients at Mount Sinai also continue to spend 71 per cent less time waiting for cancer surgery and 70 per cent less time waiting for cataract surgery than in 2005.
- Ontario is national leader in reducing wait times for five priority health services, according to the 2011 annual report card issued by the Wait Time Alliance.
CONTACTS
- For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline
1-866-532-3161
(Toll-free in Ontario only) - Neala Barton
Minister’s Office
416-327-4388
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
ontario.ca/health