Innovative Solutions Improve the “Order” and “Speed” in which Patients Access Care

The Association of Canadian Academic Healthcare Organizations (ACAHO), releases its third report on innovative wait times management strategies entitled, "Wait" Watchers III: Order and Speed...Improving Access to Care through Innovations in Patient Flow.

"If there is one indicator that Canadians link to the performance of the health system, it is timely access to care. More specifically, wait times are the barometer by which Canadians perceive the performance of the system", said Dr. Jack Kitts, Chair of the ACAHO Board, and President & CEO of The Ottawa Hospital. "This report shines a light on the many pockets of innovation that are occurring at the local level - in partnership with patients, providers, administrators, and funders - that are improving the order with which care is delivered, and the speed at which patients move through the system."

The report identifies forty-five (45) case studies - which cover the continuum of care - from the country's Research Hospitals that describe how members have improved access to care through improved patient flow innovations. Full details on all cases, submitted by close to 200 authors and team members across twenty-three (23) organizations, can be accessed here.

"The cases reflect real-world innovations that are occurring at the local level...and demonstrate that collaborative partnerships can produce practical solutions that improve existing delivery structures and pathways of how patients access the health system", said Mr. Glenn Brimacombe, President & CEO of ACAHO.

Importantly, the report also identifies six policy areas that require further consideration if we are to take full advantage of patient flow innovations, they are: (1) access to care in the community; (2) bed and staffing capacity; (3) physical space and infrastructure issues; (4) health information technology; (5) data and evidence to guide decision-making; and (6) alignment of incentives.

ACAHO is the national voice of the Canada's Research Hospitals, Teaching Hospitals, Academic Regional Health Authorities and their Research Institutes. Its members are leaders of innovative and transformational organizations that serve a unique and essential role in the system: they educate the next generation of health care professionals, advance leading edge innovative practices through health research, and provide much of the specialized health care services to Canadians.

Media Contact:
Beatrice Keleher Raffoul
Vice President, Public Affairs
Telephone: (613) 730-5818 Extension 323
Cell Phone: (613) 795-4878
Fax: (613) 730-4314
E-mail: raffoul@acaho.org

March 26, 2009