Factors Driving Change
We fully recognize that money alone isn’t going to resolve the issues facing acute care in Niagara. We increasingly recognize that the status quo in hospital service is no longer sustainable here in Niagara due to many factors beyond finances:
- increased prevalence of chronic disease and lack of primary health-care in Niagara are driving increased utilization of hospital resources;
- a shrinking number of doctors, nurses and other health professionals;
- changes in technology;and changes in funding formulas are but a few of the many factors.
The manner in which we provide health-care has significantly changed in past decades and the pace of change shows no sign of slowing. While change is often feared and unwelcome, there are many positive opportunities that can be realized through change.
The acute care hospital of the future will look and be very different from the acute care hospital of today. We will see the emergence of more and more technology-dependent services. Advancements in diagnostics such as MRI and computerized tomography will bring faster service for patients, quicker turnaround times for diagnosis and shorter stays for patients in hospital. More effective drug treatments and therapies will shorten in-hospital stays for patients. Advanced surgical capability will mean more procedures will be performed on an outpatient basis than ever before. Emphasis will be on keeping people healthy with more care being provided in the community. Evidence-based decision making and standardized treatment and the increased use of research will become the norm in health-care.
Hospital facilities and equipment we need to care for patients are rapidly aging at a time when advancements in medical technology, therapies and equipment are advancing. Yet health-care technology and equipment is extremely expensive. Demands on services and the costs of new technologies, drugs and techniques are all increasing, so we must make the best use of all our resources – people, buildings, equipment and dollars and focus on our core business which is delivering quality care.
