As staffing shortages and increase in patients, put pressure on medical resources, a report formulated by the Canadian Medical Association Journal paints a desperate future for the country’s emergency services.
A report indicates, that an exhausting and precarious summer waits for emergency department’s health – care workers, facing conditions ranging from hospital closures to lengthy wait – time.
Physicians inform health – care systems in Canada have been in trouble for decades, and in recent years an immense strain on resources due to respiratory illnesses, influenza epidemics and waves of COVID cases, especially in the emergency rooms in the country.
Dr. Warren Thirsk an Alberta emergency physician, in an interview said, in reality the problems that the emergency services are faced with, predates the pandemic by decades, although the perception is that the pandemic caused most of the problems. Now the pandemic has been resolved, but people are wondering why emergency care has not improved, in fact it has worsen.
The crisis is referred to as a “perpetual cycle” as bed shortages and increased wait time, resulting in patients spending increased amount of time in the emergency departments, due to the restriction of patient care, impacting not only on patient care, but also on well – being of providers. The report indicates.
Physician groups across the country plan to state the dangers of the crisis, by open letters to provincial governments. Nearly 200 physicians, detailing with examples, of the lack of long-term care spaces creating backlogs and staffing shortages. It is stated that their patients await treatment up to 72 hours in the ER, some have even died waiting.
Rural hospitals in Ontario, for the upcoming summer season are ready for closure in small communities, similar to last years, led to closure for days due to staffing issues.
Physicians in emergency departments acts as the “stopgap” for physician officers and community hospitals when faced with staffing crises, however, when emergency departments are faced with crisis, there is no “stopgap” for it. Said DR. Thirsk. Across the country, emergency departments are stressed out, and seem to be worsening, as capacity is running out.
One of the biggest problems that hospitals are faced with is the access to constant primary care, including family Doctor shortages, informed Dr, Kathleen Ross, Canadian Medical Association and B.C family physician in an interview.
A limited data and knowledge on the current services and resources available for care – providers and patients are due to the lack of understanding the health – care system in Canada for years, Dr. Ross said. A system that contains up – to – date knowledge on patient’s needs, and the method the providers can effectively attend to them, will greatly benefit the population in the future, explained by Dr. Ross.
