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Changes ahead for health department Recruitment, funding, medical travel and performance to be reviewedNathalie Heiberg-Harrison Northern News Services Published Monday, November 7, 2011
Over the next year, recruitment and retention strategies, funding models and medical travel will all be reviewed. In addition, system-wide performance indicators will be expanded and evaluated, which could dictate how funds are dispersed among health authorities. The changes come on the heels of the auditor general's report, Northwest Territories Health Programs and Services, which was released in March of this year. In it, former auditor general Sheila Fraser examined whether the department adequately manages health programs and services. "Although several actions have been implemented or are under way, the department has yet to implement certain other actions that could improve the health care system," the report read. It suggested the department establish performance agreements and revise its current funding model. In addition, the auditor general found gaps in diabetes programming, home care, long-term care programs and medical travel. "The department has insufficient information to determine whether health outcomes of patients with diabetes are improving," the report read. "Current standards for home care and long-term care programs are too broad to serve as a basis for monitoring and to ensure equitable access to the programs." The report also noted the system's heavy reliance on temporary physicians and nurses, which cost more than permanent staff. Healy said the Department of Health and Social Services, in partnership with the Department of Human Resources, will develop a new recruitment plan in 2012. In the meantime, the two departments are meeting with consultants to identify short-term strategies to improve recruitment and retention of staff. Over the next year they will also develop a revised funding model and performance agreements for the eight local health authorities. The medical travel program will also be revamped after a policy review, and Healy said a more effective co-ordinating system will be put in place. The auditor general's report also noted that although an aging population and increased costs of equipment and drugs are beyond the department's control, reducing the cost of health care delivery is still achievable. In the NWT, the responsibility for health and social services is shared between the Department of Health and Social Services and eight regional health authorities. The department's 2010-2011 budget was $326 million, which accounted for approximately 25 per cent of the GNWT's total budget. Altogether, health services employ around 1,400 people in the territory.
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