Hospital Funding Formula To Change

Monday, April 12, 2010 03:56 AM

Prince George, B.C.- This week, the Provincial Ministry of Health is expected to announce a new way to fund surgeries in the province.

Instead of giving a facility a block of funding with which a hospital must budget surgeries, the focus will shift to the patient. Hospitals will receive funding based on completed surgeries and procedures. The new formula is expected to increase productivity and ultimately reduce waiting lists.

Northern Health is aware there is an official announcement on the horizon says spokesperson Steve Raper “We haven’t seen the official announcement, but we are very optimistic we can develop a plan that will work effectively.”

Reports on Global BC Television last week indicate 23 hospitals in B.C. will move to the new system once it has been officially announced this week.

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Posted on Monday, April 12, 2010 03:56 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Andyfreeze on April 12 2010 7:22 AM

Will this set up a competition for patients between the 23 hospitals involved, as it does in the U.S.?
Will it turn hospitals into meat factory's where the more patients they move in and out,the more money they make?
It that the point behind it?
And will it mean patients will be rushed out after surgery, so they can fill the bed with another patient/cash cow?
Seems the danger in this is the quality of care recieved AFTER treatment.
I smell an "american" style of healthcare with this, where it is all about money, and we already know Campbell appears to prefer turning as much as possible over to the private sector.
It this the start of that style of healthcare?
We need more information I know,but I don't trust anything that has Kevin Falcons and Campbell's stamp on it.
This could lead to hospitals having conveyor belts from the street, to surgery, and back to the street!
And what happens to the hospitals that are not part of the patient grab?

Posted by: ammonra on April 12 2010 8:10 AM

What about the surgical procedures that are currently being rationed? I have been waiting for surgery for five years now, and at the end of last year theVancouver Island Health Authority announced it was cutting back from 120 or so a year to 52, for the whole province, that is, not just Vancouver Island. This rationing delayed my surgery by several months as I was due to be done by November last and now it looks like November next, if then.

Is the funding for my surgery following me? If so, why can't I have the surgery the day after the change is announced? Why is their rationing of surgery in BC in the first place?

Posted by: Andyfreeze on April 12 2010 8:37 AM

Good questions ammonra...it will be interesting to see just how Falcon and Campbell try to sell this when the "official" detailed announcement is made.
If it is like other announcments from the Liberals,it will be full of unknowns and large holes.
I guess what it comes down to is...can we trust them?
My guts say no way, too many lies in the past.

Posted by: doneright on April 12 2010 8:41 AM

I heard a rumor that if the hospital stays under budget, some of the head brass get a bonus, does anyone know if this is true.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on April 12 2010 9:52 AM

Given this government's penchant for large payouts and bonuses,I would almost expect this to be the case doneright!
It would not be a suprise at all,but it is also something that is not normally talked about.
I would suspect they think this is none of our business?
We may know more when we have an "official" announcement,but if the Campbell gang is true to form,this may get left out.