Jump to Navigation
Close

What can we help you find today? Type what you’re looking for in the space below.

  • About Us
    • Committee Members
    • Annual Report
    • Evaluations
    • Meeting Summaries (The Wrap)
    • SSC Co-Chair Report
  • PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES
    • DEVELOP PHYSICIAN CAPABILITY
      • Physician Quality Improvement Initiative
      • Physician Leadership Scholarship
      • UBC Sauder Physician Leadership Program
    • ENGAGE PHYSICIANS & HEALTH PARTNERS
      • Facility Engagement
      • Collaborative Councils
      • Improving Specialist Job Satisfaction
      • Supporting Community Based Specialists
    • TRANSFORM CARE DELIVERY
      • Enhancing Access Initiative
      • Surgical Patient Optimization Collaborative (SPOC)
      • Quality and Innovation Projects
      • SSC Fees
      • Health System Redesign
  • News
    • Our Latest Newsletter
    • Archived SSC Focus newsletters
    • PQI Stories
    • Videos
  • Contact
  • The Exchange
  • Main Menu
  • search

Better data leads to improved access

Posted on Jun 17, 2015

When we think of health care – data is not the first thing that comes to mind. However, many physicians would likely agree that data is integral to evaluating and improving the delivery of health care.

Specifically, how long patients wait to see a specialist from the time they are referred by a GP or other physician has not been easily tracked. There is anecdotal information and surveys of specialists, but limited ability to accurately track and measure wait times for specialist office consultations in an integrated and patient focused way.

In BC, a physician-driven project to develop, test, prototype and implement the collection, tracking and reporting of wait time data through physician offices’ electronic medical records (EMRs) began in one orthopedic surgeon’s office in 2012.

Orthopedic surgeon, Dr Kevin Wing submitted a proposal on behalf of the BC Orthopaedic Association and received initial funding from SSC’s Quality and Improvement Initiative for this Wait Time Initiative. Since then with the continuing support of SSC, the project has expanded to include over 50 orthopedic and general surgeons’ offices, and currently aims to add about 300 more physician offices in the next 12 months, starting with physicians using QHR’s- Accuro EMR.

Dr. Ahmer Karimuddin, a general surgeon and an SSC member has recently joined Dr Wing, and they continue to move this patient focused,  physician-driven initiative forward.  In addition to orthopedic and general surgery, the recently established Steering Committee includes representatives from two other medical sections to help further leverage this initiative.

This initiative has bold aims, including:
•    improving communication about wait times between specialists’ offices, referring physicians and patients
•    identifying care gaps, areas of high need and patient trends
•    identifying quality improvement strategies to better manage wait times (e.g., pooled referrals/central intake, group medical visits, etc.)

Over the long term, as the needs of BC’s population changes the data can be used to inform health human resource planning to support continued and timely access to care. For more information, please contact Joanna Wills at jwills@doctorsofbc.ca

 

  • Our Latest Newsletter
  • Archived SSC Focus newsletters
  • PQI Stories
  • Videos

What’s New

Oct 1, 2020

Island Health blazes a new trial by cutting back on MS patients’ need to travel for care

Jan 19, 2021

Funding support available for BC doctors to attend Quality Forum

Dec 11, 2020

Leveling the playing field for osteoporosis care

Nov 4, 2020

Specialist Services Committee Backs Expansive Strategy For Improving Cystic Fibrosis Patient Care

View all News

About Us

  • Committee Members
  • Annual Report
  • Evaluations
  • Meeting Summaries (The Wrap)
  • SSC Co-Chair Report

SSC Fees

  • Advance Care Planning
  • Discharge Care Planning
  • Group Medical Visits (GMV)
  • Multidisciplinary Conferencing
  • Patient Follow-up Fees
  • Specialist Advice Fees
  • FAQs
  • Labour Market Adjustment Fees

News

  • Our Latest Newsletter
  • Archived SSC Focus newsletters
  • PQI Stories
  • Videos

General Contact

Specialist Services Committee

Daniel Angrignon

sscbc@doctorsofbc.ca

604 638 7905  

 

Specialist Services Committee © Doctors of BC

  • About Us
    • Committee Members
    • Annual Report
    • Evaluations
    • Meeting Summaries (The Wrap)
    • SSC Co-Chair Report
  • PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES
    • DEVELOP PHYSICIAN CAPABILITY
    • ENGAGE PHYSICIANS & HEALTH PARTNERS
    • TRANSFORM CARE DELIVERY
  • News
    • Our Latest Newsletter
    • Archived SSC Focus newsletters
    • PQI Stories
    • Videos
  • Contact
  • The Exchange
  • Main Menu
  • search