Improving Health Care For All Ontarians
McGuinty’s Government Improving Quality And Accountability In Health Care
Ontario is putting patients first by improving the quality and accountability of the province’s health care system through new legislation.
The Excellent Care for All Act was passed by the legislature today and upon Royal Assent will make health care providers and executives accountable for improving patient care. The legislation requires health care organizations, starting with hospitals, to:
- Develop and make public annual quality improvement plans
- Create quality committees to report to each board on quality related issues, including the public annual quality improvement plan
- Link executive compensation to quality plan performance improvements
- Implement patient and employee satisfaction surveys and a patient complaints process
The legislation also expands the mandate of the Ontario Health Quality Council to recommend evidence-based guidelines that health care providers should adopt.
Today’s announcement is part of the government’s Open Ontario Plan to provide more access to health care services while improving quality and accountability for patients.
QUICK FACTS
- Just 20 years ago, 32 cents of every dollar spent on government programs were spent on health care. Today, it is 46 cents. In 12 years, it could be 70 cents if appropriate action is not taken.
- The number of patients who receive radiation treatment within Ontario’s target has increased by more than 40 per cent since 2007.
- The legislation builds on the province’s ongoing efforts to improve quality and patient safety in the health care system. For instance, in 2008, the government launched a patient safety indicator initiative that has helped improve hand hygiene compliance and reduce C. difficile rates in hospitals by 13 per cent.
