HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1979-05-16, Page 4page 4—Luck .w Seatlsel, Wedsteeday, May 14, 1979
Bard shaelred at min str
concept o f HSO
Members of the Wingham and District
Hospital board and medical staff were
shocked and angry when a health ministry
official outlined the Health Service Organ-
ization ,pilot project the hospital is looking,
at, to a meeting of -hospital, representatives
in Wingham on May 8.
The system as described by assistant
deputy health minister, Allan Dyer, would
perm•lt doctors to benefit financially if they
keep 'patients healthy and out of hospital.
The money spent by the ministry on
health care in this area would be put into a
•' `global budget" based on the number of
people 'treated by the dons at . the
Wingham Hospital. Rather than being paid
on a fee for service schedule by ' OHIP as
they are now, doctors would bill the
organization directlyfor services rendered`
and everytime a patient is admitted to
hospital the cost would be taken from the
global budget.
Dyer said the present system of billing
OHIP and receiving a . budget from the
ministry to operate the hospital, has no
incentive for doctors to keep . patients,
healthy .and to .help reduce the cost of
operating hospitals.
.The • HSO would provide a financial
incentive for the: doctors to restrict
admissions because any money :left" in the
budget at the year's end would be spent :as
the board members of the HSO saw' fit,
including larger salaries. for the doctors.
Dr. Jack .McKim told the ' meeting the
HSO concept could be .stated simply. "It'
will put pressureon physicians to admit
less Often to hospitaland for being good
they would receive a bonus at the .end of
the year, with the hope' the hospital would
utilize less beds (thereby less cost. to the
budget).' Then .the HSO would, close the
beds as unnecessary and the ministry
would be off the hook," stated McKim:
Executive director . Norman .Hayes said
the ministry's concept was unacceptable
because it sacrificed the quality .of patient
The advantage to, the: system as he
outlinedit, said Dyer, .is that :physicians
have a financial incentive to .keep..people
from entering hospital. "If you really try
you can obtain admission without jeopard-
izing health care," he told the doctors'.
The hospital representatives held a
different conception of the HA) system: To
" make the system work efficiently in Wing-
ham, Hayes had suggested a new wing be
built to house a new, operating room;,
• outpatients' services, Social agencies,
social workers,. psychiatrists and psychol-
ogists and possibly doctor's offices.
The new centre would attract. specialists
and entertain the' possibility of Wingham
Hospital becoming a referralcentre for this
area. Not' only the patients' symptoms
would be treated at such a facility. The
various sorcial agencies would be able to
find the cause of the problem, whether
physical or emotional.
Hayes estimated the centre would
eventually reduce hospital admission by
one-third.
Dyer told the meeting the system as he
saw it, would be the first of its kind in the
province. The other programs already in
operation only fund primary services, that
is doctor's fees for medical services. The
Wingham project would incorporate both
primary and secondary services. It would
include the doctors and the hospital
services in its funding:
In Windsor with co-ordination of servic-
es, $1.3 million was saved which was put
into community services
The hospital representatives could only
wonder at the administrative costs inyolved
insuch a system. A premium is paid to the
global budget for each person on the roster
in, the hospital's area whether sick or well.
If a personin the. Wingham Hospital `area
chose .to be treated by a doctor not in the
Wingham HSO or at anotherhospital,the
patient's .premium would be deducted from
the budget for that month. The patient
would be removed ;from the roster as long
as they were being treated bya', a' doctor
outside the system or in another hospital.
Detailed scrutiny of . thepatient roster,
direct billing foreverything down to Q -tips
and an inhouse accounting system will be
required.
Dryer presented: the system as being
aitned at . saving the hospital money and
Hayes said the hospital was 'already being
operated as efficiently. as possible. Dryer
challenged the hospital board to have a
consultant 'groupdo a . study 'to determine
th:e hospital... is , being penalized for- its
efficiency. .'
The hospital board .did not make a
committment to, persue the . HSO scheme
but • agreed to .continue to 'study the
proposal. They upheld .a :previous: decision
not to close any beds at the hospital and to
fight the ministry onthe issue.
Should the: hospital take the government.
• tocourt and . the courts decided the
.government did not have the •right to close,.
hospital beds, Dyer said legislation which
would be strong enough to constrict health
expenditures in the .province . would be
passed the yery nett day.
You are not going to get all three.
(political)' parties to agree the health cost of
the province does not need •to be
constricted . in any way ' said' Dyer. If
existing ; laws are not strong enough .to
contain costs the government will pass
appropriate laws that will.
Bill Kinahan of Lucknow, centre, was named president of the Huron Perth .Lung ,Association •
at the group's. annual meeting in Stratford recently. He succeeds May Dodds of Stratford,
left. Beside Mr. Kinahan is Edith Maher of Mitchell, the new first vice president. and Beryl
Dunsmore-of Harmony, right, is the Lung AssocIation's executive director. [Expositor Photo]'
SATURDAY &SUNDAY'
MAY 19 8120, 1971
AT POINT CLARK LIGHTHOUSE
PIGTA'ILS & SAUSAGE
FROM 1 P
FLEA MARKET & GAMES OF CHANCE
FIREWORKS DISPLAY
FOR THE KIDDIES
SUNDAY At DUSK
For A Strong, Fresh Voice
ON MAY 22nd ELECT'
GRAEME CRAIG
LIBERAL
HURON - BRUCE
Bring the family and meet Graeme May 17th at Goderich Arena
Beef On A Bun - 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
*Huron -Bruce needs a voice that Will speak out and get involved in the
issues
*Huron -Bruce needs a member who'Will open up 'a pipeline between
Ottawa and Huron=Bruce`s
For Information, Transportation or if Yoza Wish to Work - Phone Walton 887.6886,
Ezeter235-2788, .Clinton 48 7801, Seaforth 527.0607, Goderich 524-2161,
Ingham 357.1560.
Published by The Official Agent for Graeme Craig, Walton, Ontario.
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