A new report examines the current state of Ontario’s health care system.
Measuring Up 2017, Health Quality Ontario’s yearly report on the province’s health system, was released today. This year’s report is drawn from a review of a set of about 50 health system indicators called the Common Quality Agenda. The report combines a broad range of data with the stories of people at the front lines of the system, including patients, families and health care professionals.
The report flags a number of key issues related to mental health and addictions. Access to physician care and care transitions for mental health conditions remain poor, with no increase in timely follow-up visits with a primary care doctor or psychiatrist for individuals with a mental health condition after discharge from hospital.
The report also highlights access as an issue, with wide variation between Ontario’s LHIN regions in hospital readmissions and follow-up visits with a primary care doctor or psychiatrist for people who were hospitalized for a mental illness or addiction.
Measuring Up 2017 examines more than 1,000 organizations in Ontario involved in hospital care, home care, primary care and long-term care, but does not measure the mental health and addictions sector. Ontario currently lacks a standardized, province-wide system of evidence-based performance measurement for mental health and addictions. Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions Leadership Council has recommended that the province implement a mental health and addictions data and quality strategy, which includes implementing a provincial performance measurement scorecard for services across the lifespan.
To read the full report, visit the HQO website.