Reducing Wait Lists and Delivering Timely Care
We’d like you to hear more stories like this…
“Battling cancer was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done in my life. Initially, the pain was almost unbearable. I am so thankful for the care I received from my anesthesiologist. My pain management plan made my life livable again.”
Patients need to know they will receive the best quality care in a timely fashion. Yet too many patients still endure excessive wait times before they receive the care they need.
This problem can be solved though. Our recommendations include:
More Out-of-OR Anesthesiologist Positions
Many patients rely on the care provided by an anesthesiologist outside the OR (Operating Room). This care includes:
- Resuscitating the critically ill and injured.
- Managing life support treatments.
- Looking after patients’ pain management in the wards.
- Sedating patients for painful radiology or cardiology procedures.
- Helping women in labour.
Anesthesiologists play an essential role in the care of patients throughout the hospital.
Without an anesthesiologist available to provide care to patients outside the OR, costly inefficiencies occur – the OR is kept on hold while the anesthesiologist provides care elsewhere.
Under an agreement with BC’s anesthesiologists in 2010, the BC Government committed additional resources to meet the needs of labouring women for pain relief. Now, not only are women benefitting from better access to labour pain relief, but these Anesthesiologist resources have been used to provide over 20 “Out-Of-OR” positions throughout BC.
Adding more Out-of-OR anesthesiologist positions would mean providing more timely care for patients outside the OR, while also reducing the wait times of surgical patients.
Better Pain Management Services
Patients suffering from pain deserve an integrated approach to the care they receive that involves anesthesiologists, family physicians, nurses, and other health providers all working together.
A provincially-coordinated, multi-disciplinary system for pain management would provide all pain patients with exactly the level of care they need. Anesthesiologists and other care providers want the proper resources to meet the needs of their patients for timely pain management.
