Quebec makes dent in notoriously long ER wait times

A report by Quebec's health and welfare commissioner says theprovince has made some progressin its efforts to create more efficient emergency rooms.

The report, released today, found that 20 hospitals in Quebec have dramatically reduced their wait times.

However, patients might feel the improvement is incremental,in a province where35 per cent of patients stillwait five hours or more for care, compared to 15 per cent inOntario and five per cent in the United States and Germany, according to the report.

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No political will?

Health commissioner Robert Salois describes the province's emergencyrooms as chronically overcrowded and accuses the authorities oflacking the leadership and will to tackle the problem.

The report found that in the last year, 1.5 million emergency room visits surpassed the maximum wait time set by the HealthMinistryamounting to 13million excesshours spent waiting for care.

After examining the hospitals that have done the best jobofreducing wait times, Saloissays he has found a "recipe" to build on their success.

He says the most efficient emergency rooms put patients first,organizingthe hospital in order to have beds available for emergenciesand establishinga direct link to health clinics to refer less urgent cases.

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The reportincludes nine recommendations, including an increased role for nurses.

This is thehealth and welfare commissioner'slast report Quebec Health Minister Gatan Barrette is abolishing the office and Salois'sposition when Salois retires this summer.

Read the full reporthere: PDF link (French only)