Legislative Electronic Publications -- Minister Of Health Appoints Emergency Care Task Force

Manitoba Government News Release:
Information Services, Room 29, Legislative Building, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0V8 Telephone: (204)
945-3746 Fax: (204) 945-3988

January 16, 2004

MINISTER OF HEALTH APPOINTS EMERGENCY CARE TASK FORCE
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National Health Council Asked To Address Emergency Care Wait Times, Standards

Health Minister Dave Chomiak has appointed an Emergency Care Task Force for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA).

The Task Force has been asked to report back with an interim plan by next week. The Task Force has three main assignments:

1. Listen to patients and families who have concerns about their emergency care experiences:

to ensure that there is appropriate review and investigation of individual cases; and

to ensure that patients and families have access to appropriate supports and resources.

2. Work with emergency department staff, hospitals and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to develop further improvements to emergency care in Winnipeg. Issues to be examined include:

ER staffing levels;

expanding urgent care to reduce pressure on ERs;

expanding the role of other health care professionals - such as nurse practitioners – in improving emergency care;

capital improvements - such as fast-track options - that reduce wait times in ERs; and

developing and meeting target wait times for ER patients to be seen by doctors.

3. Oversee implementation of improvements to emergency care in all Winnipeg hospitals, including the current WRHA Action Plan for Emergency Department Care and Waiting Times, with further improvements to be announced next week and long-term improvements that the task force identifies.

"The Emergency Care Task Force will work with patients, front-line staff and hospitals to implement improvements to emergency care in Winnipeg," said Chomiak. "We are committed to supporting the nurses, doctors and other health care professionals who are doing their best on the front lines of our emergency rooms."

Chomiak also announced that he has written the chair of the newly formed National Health Council to address the issue of emergency care wait times and standards as its first order of business.

"In light of the many problems recently reported in emergency departments across Canada, there is a clear role for the new Health Council to show national leadership in improving emergency care for all Canadians," said Chomiak.

The Emergency Care Task Force will be chaired by Jan Currie, VP and chief nursing officer, WRHA. It will also include front-line ER staff and independent representatives from the community.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (CME) is also being invited to appoint a representative to the task force in order to ensure information gathered by the CME is incorporated into the work of the task force.

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