Defend Public Healthcare

Hospitals are often stereotyped as providers of acute care services.  In fact, acute care accounts for a relatively small portion of total hospital services. As noted a few days ago ,  costs per acute care patient (or, more exactly, per "weighted case")  in Ontario are significantly below the national average, coming in at $5,174  in 2010-11 (and $5,184 in 2011-12). There  was 1,484,046 weighted acute care (and newborn) cases in 2010-11 in Ontario. So  the total acute inpatient cost is about  $7,678,454,004. In 2010-11, the total hospital sector expense (funded from both government and other sources) was $20.6 billion according to figures in the  2010 Budget .   As a result, acute care spending amounts to only 37.2% of all hospital spending. In other words, acute care is a significant part of hospital activity --but it is in a decided minority in overall scheme of things going on at hospitals.   Good news for P3 privatizers , Ontario's privatized P3 Highway,

The real costs for the average hospital acute care patient are declining. As noted yesterday this is true for both Ontario and Canada, based on data just released from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).    But the CIHI data also revealed other interesting trends, likely related.   Administrative Costs Decline:  Administrative costs fell from 6.21% of total expenses in 2009-10 to 6.15% in 2010-11 and then down to 5.91% in 2011-12.   With a total hospital spend in the range of $21 billion in Ontario, this 0.3% reduction frees up about $63 million annually. The decline in administrative costs across Canada has also been marked, declining by a similar amount as in Ontario to fall to 4.7% of total  hospital expenditures.   Long-Term Efficiencies Achieved in Support and Administrative  Services: This decline in administrative costs is part of a longer term trend.  A  2005 report  from CIHI indicated  administrative expenses took up significantly mor

Ontario has the lowest hospital cost per weighted case of all the provinces.  And the cost difference between Ontario and the rest of the country is growing. Hospital Cost Per Weighted Case ($) 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 Newfoundland 6,001 6,283 6,332 PEI DQ DQ 5,257 Nova Scotia 4,998 5,403 5,384 New Brunswick 5,104 5,380 5,390 Quebec 4,455 4,550 4,728 Ontario 5,164 5,174 5,184 Manitoba 5,403 5,438 5,396 Saskatchewan 5,722 5,883 6,174 Alberta 6,139 6,399 6,631 BC 5,456 5,571 5,232 North West Territories N/R N/R N/R Yukon DQ 7,709 7,394 Weighted Average 5,172 5,281 5,335 Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI ): Canadia

Canada is an extreme outlier in terms of hospital services.  We provide hospital inpatient services to fewer patients than any other developed nation.    The 34 member "rich nations" club, the Organization for Economic Coordination and Development (OECD) has released its  2013 comparison of health statistics for its member states.  For 2011 (or the reported year closest to 2011) the OECD reports that the average number of hospital discharges per 100,000 people is 15,561.     The Canadian rate reported is 8,249.   In other words, we have just over half (53%) the number of discharges as other developed nations.  Only Mexico has a lower number -- although many would classify it as a developing nation rather than a rich one.  Otherwise, Chile, which has 15% more discharges, is our nearest comparator.  The rest range  between 24%  higher (Spain) to 333% higher (Austria).  (You can download the complete 2013 OECD comparison by clicking  here. ) Even this may understate

The Minister of Health and LTC has strongly endorsed the restructuring of the patient transfer industry in the South West LHIN.  This may set a new model for the private corporations that often move patients between health care facilities in vehicles that look, for all the world, like ambulances -- but are not.   For the first time, a LHIN-wide patient transfer provider has been chosen, with the goal of standardizing equipment and staffing qualifications. Health Minister Deb Matthews states: "This non-emergency transportation approach is precisely the type of collaborative effort that will help transform the health care system in Ontario. Standardized equipment and qualifications will lead to enhanced quality of care and safety for all the people hospitalized in the South West LHIN." This restructuring is, no doubt, a response to the scandals uncovered in the private transfer industry over two years ago by the CBC and the provincial Ombudsman.   Ontario resident