The “cost per weighted case” in Ontario hospitals in 2010-11 was $5,143, according to a new report from CIHI. (This indicator measures the relative cost-efficiency of a hospital’s ability to provide acute inpatient care.) The Ontario cost per weighted case compares with a Canada-wide average of $5,230.96. In other words, the Canada-wide average is 1.7% higher than Ontario. Ontario has improved its position relative to the other provinces since 2009/10, when the Canada-wide average was only 0.08% higher. Ontario’s lower costs are especially significant as (presumably) Ontario hospital wages (like other wages) are higher than most other provinces. Of all the other provinces, only Quebec has a lower cost per weighted case. As well, despite the lower costs per weighted case, clinical lab hours per weighted case, diagnostic services hours per weighted case, and pharmacy hours per weighted case were all higher in Ontario than the Canada-wide average. Of the reporte
Notes from Leftwords -- Doug Allan