October 3, 2013
Reviews by RHAs Focused on More Effectively Delivering Health Care
Operational improvement initiatives announced today by Central Health, Western Health, and Labrador-Grenfell Health are focused on delivering health care more effectively and mark an important step in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the province’s health care system.
“Over the last year regional health authorities have been identifying opportunities that balance the need to reduce operational expenditures while maintaining high quality patient care,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services. “The approaches they are taking are practical and evidence-based. Attrition will be used to minimize human resource impacts and overall these operational improvement initiatives will result in programs and services being delivered more effectively to residents.”
The initiatives being implemented by Central Health, Western Health, and Labrador-Grenfell Health are based on data that compares their performance against other health care organizations across Canada. Eastern Health continues to implement its operational improvement plans and take steps to reduce operational costs. To date, Eastern Health has saved over $20 million without impacting the quality of services provided to patients and their families.
“Through this process, regional health authorities have compared their performance to similar health organizations in Canada,” said Minister Sullivan. “The success of Eastern Health has demonstrated that identifying best practices to strengthen programs and services can result in better utilization of health care investments. As a government, we fully envision that other regional health authorities will experience similar levels of success.”
The Provincial Government will continue to work with regional health authorities to implement their operational improvement plans.
“Working smarter and continuously identifying opportunities for efficiencies within the province’s health care system is essential for regional health authorities,” said Minister Sullivan. “This commitment is key to sustaining the level of services that are so highly valued by families and communities in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Since 2003, health care spending has increased from approximately $1.3 billion to close to $2.9 billion today – this represents a 123 per cent increase. The increase can be attributed to a number of factors including rising costs for technology and salaries, as well as new infrastructure.
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Media contact:
Scott Barfoot
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 690-6290
scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca
2013 10 03 1:50 p.m.