July 19, 2006

TORONTO – Ontario hospitals are getting better at coordinating patient care with other hospitals and community-based health care providers, according to Hospital Report 2006 : Acute Care released today by Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman and Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) President and CEO Hilary Short.

"We're on the side of Ontarians who want and deserve the best health care," said Smitherman. "The report findings lead to the sharing of best practices among hospitals, and that benefits all patients across the province."

The Hospital Report 2006: Acute Care is one of a series of reports jointly released by the government and the OHA on acute care, rehabilitation, complex continuing care and emergency care. It details the performance of 95 hospitals (out of 123 eligible) that voluntarily participate in the study. It is the only report in the series being released this year.

Acute care involves overnight stays of a relatively short time for serious health problems. Acute care hospitals provide diagnostic, medical care and surgery for serious or life-threatening conditions such as a heart attack or stroke.

Key findings of the report include :

• 68 % of hospitals have adopted patient safety measures as a written, strategic priority or goal.
• 80.7% of hospitals developed standardized protocols for care co-ordination with community care access centres, up from 77.1 per cent per cent the year before.
• 89% of hospitals reported an organization-wide non-punitive reporting policy in place for reporting adverse events.
• 15.8% of patient satisfaction survey respondents indicate fair or poor communication about their condition, treatment and preparation for discharge and care at home.

This is the sixth report to deal with acute care in hospitals. Based on 2004/05 data, the report looks at five areas : patient care, patient satisfaction, dealing with change, financial performance and condition and women's health.

"Continuous quality improvement is a fundamental principle at every hospital in Ontario, and a cornerstone of the Government of Ontario's health sector transformation agenda," said Short. "The 2006 Report on Acute Care in Ontario highlights hospitals' record of achievement in implementing accountability and quality initiatives and, by identifying both successes and areas for improvement, will assist them in their efforts to further enhance acute care services across the province."

Independently prepared by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) and the Hospital Report Research Collaborative at the University of Toronto, Ontario's Hospital Reports are considered one of the most advanced approaches to reporting on hospital performance in North America.

"This series of reports have always been an important resource for Ontario hospitals and the communities they serve," said Glenda Yeates, CIHI's president and CEO. "In order to offer patients the very best quality of care, it is necessary to constantly re-evaluate the way services are delivered. Hospital Report 2006 : Acute Care presents reliable information to help hospitals make sound decisions and effectively manage their resources."

Hospital Report 2006 : Acute Care is available on the following websites : www.health.gov.on.ca., www.cihi.ca, www.oha.com, and www.hospitalreport.ca or by calling 416 327-4327 or 1-800-268-1154.

For further information :

Members of the general public : (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154

BACKGROUNDERS

Hospital Report 2006 : Acute Care

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