Loud and Clear: seniors and caregivers speak out about navigating Ontario's healthcare system

Change Foundation engaged Ontario seniors.....

Loud and Clear

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About Loud and Clear

In Loud and Clear: Seniors and caregivers speak out about navigating Ontario’s healthcare system, we explain our rationale for the timing and target of our engagement, describe our methodology, present our findings and how we plan to use them, and share the Foundation’s next steps and how they fit, feed into, and even blaze the way for patient-centred healthcare in Ontario.

Dedication

We dedicate this report to the seniors and their family members and friends across Ontario who shared their experiences and stories with us. They spoke forcefully and thoughtfully, with both emotion and measure, about where the system has failed them and how it could serve them better. They spoke loud and clear.

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“I don’t know what’s happening next, but where do you go to find the answers? Seems like there are roadblocks set up in the system that make it hard.”
Ontario senior 
 

“Our doctor sent us for an appointment with a specialist. We waited five months and never heard anything, so I called and they had no record of the appointment. It would be a good idea if someone from the doctor’s office called the patient once an appointment is made to confirm.”
Ontario senior 

“I’ve never been asked as a caregiver, 'What’s convenient for you?' Or 'How would this work in your family?' instead it’s 'This is what we’re going to do for you.' There's no discussion of collaboration.”
Ontario caregiver

video: doctor who restricted his wife's appointment to one problem only - video

Blogger's Note/Opinion: while this media report is from Canada (Manitoba) this is not a country-specific issue, it is, however, not patient-centered nor patient-friendly care, watch media for upcoming 'apologies'

Canada News Videos

 'Assembly line medicine' (video)

1. Thu, 3 May, 2012 - CBC.ca 2:01 | 63,732 views

   Medical experts weigh in on a Manitoba man's complaint against a doctor who restricted his wife's appointment to one problem only.

abstract: The practice of pathology in Canada: decreasing pathologist supply and uncertain outcomes

The practice of pathology in Canada: dec... [Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2012]
Sections of Gynecological and Cytopathology Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada.

 Abstract

CONTEXT:

Pathology organizations in the United States are preparing for a new era of health care reform. Trends in the supply of pathologists in Canada's managed care system may provide some useful insights in any analysis and projection of future pathologist needs in the United States.

OBJECTIVE:

In this study, population-based Canadian databases were used to devise a parameter for physician supply, cancer cases per physician. The trend in this supply parameter for pathologists was compared to that for radiation oncologists.

DESIGN:

The number of Canadian pathologists and radiation oncologists and the annual number of new cancer cases in each of 2 years, 1999 and 2009, were extracted from reliable databases. Cancer cases per pathologist and oncologist were calculated, and relative trends in supply of physicians in both specialties were identified.

RESULTS:

The annual number of new cancer cases increased from 129,300 to 171,000 from 1999 to 2009. The absolute numbers of both pathologists and oncologists also increased in this time period. However, while the increase in the number of radiation oncologists led to an 8.2% decrease in cancer cases per radiation oncologist, the modest increase in the number of pathologists led to an increase of 17.1% in cancer cases per pathologist.

CONCLUSIONS:

There is a trend toward a decreasing supply of Canadian pathologists relative to that of cancer demands. This finding confirms an earlier population-based study showing a decreased supply relative to population and number of clinical physicians. It is uncertain whether this decreased supply is a result of appropriate application of new, efficient methods or whether health care has been rationed or adversely impacted. Outcome measures to monitor Canadian pathology practice quality are clearly needed.