Recent health care discussions between provincial and federal health ministers highlight a common lament: How to do more with less.
Current health care spending in B.C. consumes more than 40 cents of every government dollar spent. And that amount is expected to climb as our population ages.
Controlling those costs is not a new priority. In fact, some might suggest it has become a preoccupation with health care administrators. Instead of delivering the best care possible, they look for the best value. Sometimes the two are complementary, sometimes they are not.
There’s little doubt that Chilliwack hospital’s “Home is Best” initiative offers a little of both.
The program is aimed at helping people get on their feet and into their homes sooner by providing care and support inside and outside the traditional hospital setting. That encourages independence, and if done properly, promotes better health. But it also frees resources that could be better spent elsewhere.
The potential savings have long been identified. It costs roughly $1,200 a day for an acute care bed in a B.C. hospital.
Other programs have tried to unclog a system that too often sees patients occupying expensive beds while there are cheaper options elsewhere.
But while it is important to be fiscally responsible, health care in Canada is about more than the bottom line.
If we are to save money by moving people back into the community, it is critical that adequate resources be in place to support them.
A recent report by the B.C.’s seniors advocate suggests there’s still work to be done. Isobel Mackenzie argues the increase in home care support hours is not keeping pace with the demand. (See story, page 3.)
That is troubling news.
Several decades ago governments made the admirable decision to close large mental health institutions and move to a more community-centred approach. Unfortunately the enthusiasm for the closure of those facilities wasn’t matched by a commitment to provide local support.
Consequently we failed – and continue to fail – some of our most vulnerable citizens.
Finding efficiencies within our health care system is a worthy goal.
But not if those savings come at the expense of the very people the system is there to help.