HealthcarePapers
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After a late start, Ontario is well on its way to implementing an ambitious Wait Time Strategy that has already begun to show some tangible improvements in access to the five priority areas. This commentary argues that in addition to the supporting tools identified in the lead essay, a sustainable wait time strategy must encompass prevention and demand management, address shortages in health human resources, provide patients with recourse to a safety valve and promote interprovincial standards and cooperation. Care will also be needed to ensure ongoing support and engagement of organized medicine, realigning incentives to support patient care and extending the reach of health information systems into the community.
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Significant early positive cultural changes have been made in the Ontario healthcare system to address the province's Wait Time Strategy. Improving efficiency in parallel with the introduction of accountability agreements will provide early successes. ⋯ Innovative approaches such as gain-sharing should be considered. Though resources are scarce, there is a need for significant early additional investments to achieve long-term success.