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"When we look closely at the statistics for last year on the public's use of the emergency services at hospitals in the Laurentians, we realize there has been a tangible improvement in the situation. In effect, our services have improved," says Jocelyn Ouellet, president and executive director of the Laurentian Health and Social Services Agency. According to Ouellet, the population of the Laurentians is aging.
Revealing statistics
There are more and more persons aged 75 years and older. When these persons arrive at the emergency, they often have multiple medical problems that require longer to investigate and to stabilize their state of health. According to statistics compiled by the Quebec Association of Health and Social Services Agencies (AQESS), hospital emergencies in the Laurentians involving patients on stretchers are down 3.7 per cent and patients 75 years and older on stretchers are down 1.3 per cent.
Making better use
The statistics reveal that the measures implemented by the administration team are starting to bear fruit and will continue in this direction, Ouellet said. He said all teams are working to better adjust services for elderly persons so that they don't have to go to the emergency department to get these services, and should access them from home. They are also making better use of beds in the system's intermediate resources in order to free up beds in hospitals, working in conjunction with new family medicine groups (GMF) which are starting to spring up all over the territory.
New Family Medicine Groups
For a short time now, the Laurentian region has had 35 intermediate beds available, which are serving to free up hospital resources. "These beds will allow a better functioning of the services," Ouellet explained. "If they had not been made available, we would not be getting the results we are having now. It would have been more difficult. The implementation of twelve family medicine groups on our territory and increasing cooperation between the CSSS's and private medical clinics will have a positive impact on the improvement of the situation in emergencies. We have to work at several levels and on several issues in order to make positive changes in emergency departments."
The work goes on
According to Ouellet, the situation in the emergency departments is in need of constant and concentrated attention from the administrators of the health and social services establishments involved. "Our department directors are always looking for solutions," he said. "Initiatives are being taken in each of our hospitals. I can assure the population that the directors and administrators of the CSSS's are aware they must act quickly and well. And that is what they are doing with determination.
"We should acknowledge the enormous task all persons working in emergency are doing," he added. "These people are working in a context that is not easy, with constant awareness of wanting to serve everyone well who shows up at emergency. They deserve our recognition. I would like to thank them for their work and their high level of professionalism."
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