So the Ontario Government is tossing another $82 million towards alleviating waiting times in the Emergency rooms. I would like to here more about how that translates into less waiting times.
I have read in the Ottawa Citizen that they are aiming the funds at 42 hospitals. I am quoting this article:
http:// www.ottawacitizen.com/Health/Province+pumps+million+more+into/1621990/story.html
Here is the strategy:
"That includes having dedicated nurses care for patients who arrive by ambulance, assigning physician assistants to work in ERs and sending nurses to nursing homes to help care for frail elderly residents who would otherwise be sent to emergency rooms for treatment"
The PROBLEM is really people with NON EMERGENCY issues who clog the ER. The ER staff have to worry about liability issues, bad press, etc. And are pretty much limited to a first come, first serve approach with only basic TRIAGE (care direction) applied to apparent urgent cases.
I think it's time to enforce user fees if the ER is abused. Here is my 5 minute solution (can you do better? then post yours!)
1. Post a list of acceptable conditions that would be considered EMERGENCIES
2. Indicate that if your ailment is not on this list or non life threatening, that you will be charged a fee for your visit ($100)
3. Allow nurses to perform basic tests on unknown quantities like infections, viruses.
4. Allow nurses to prescribe Antibiotics (for bacterial infections)
5. Allow clinics to perform basic first aid, including stitches and wound dressing for non-life threatening injuries.
We have the facilities, they are just horribly abused.