We are three weeks into the first phase of clinical consolidation and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority provided an update on the implementation of the changes to health care services in the region, including some early observations of the robust strategy developed to monitor effects on patient flow, safety, patient experience and the workforce.
Early indicators show the detailed planning and preparation that has gone into the consolidation of health care services and the efforts of staff across the region are already resulting in some improvements to the quality and timeliness of patient care. While we acknowledge the implementation of such broad changes will require significant monitoring over the longer term, we are pleased that preliminary data shows significant improvements have been made to emergency wait times over the same time frame last year.
Wait times in Winnipeg emergency departments are measured by 90th percentile and median monitoring. Data collected between October 3 and October 22 from all emergency and urgent care sites for median wait times within the region shows wait times have decreased 13 per cent over September 2017 and 28 per cent over the same time last year.
The early statistical indicators of improvement as well as the positive feedback from the public to date are good indicators that these changes have been a positive first step toward improving access to health services for Manitobans.
