2002/03 Annual Service Plan Report Ministry of Health Planning

Year-at-a-Glance Highlights

Providing the right care in the right setting . . .

Service redesign efforts this year focused on shifting the mix of services and care providers to ensure patient care is delivered at the most appropriate level and setting. These efforts will help create an integrated network of services that will allow patients to get the care they need and to move seamlessly between settings and providers. To facilitate this:

• In April 2002, BC's new health authorities release Health Service Redesign Plans outlining their strategies to begin creating a seamless high-quality and sustainable network of care for patients in their communities.
• April also sees the introduction of the Residential Access Policy, marking a major shift toward providing access to the province's residential care facilities based on need, and ensuring spaces are available to the people who need them most.
• In September 2002, construction begins on a new mental health facility in Kamloops and Seven Oaks Mental Health Facility opens in Victoria, as part of the province's plan to ensure people with mental illness have increased access to care in their communities. In March, the following year, an expanded psychiatric unit at St. Joseph's Hospital in Comox is opened.
• In November 2002, the Community Care and Assisted Living Act passes, modernizing the regulation of community care facilities and supporting the development of assisted living units. The recently opened 59-unit Nikkei Home in Burnaby provides a tangible example of how these care arrangements will respond to seniors' demands for a wider variety of flexible options.
• Also in November 2002, BC receives $74 million in a federal funding commitment over four years to develop sustainable improvements to Primary Health Care and increase patient access to comprehensive, high-quality services in doctors' offices and community clinics — the usual "first points of contact" with the health care system.
• And in February 2003, a $58.5 million benefits and incentives package is rolled out to attract doctors to rural communities and improve access for patients living there.

Providing the right care to the right people . . .

Work was also undertaken this year to improve access to specialized care for British Columbians with specific illnesses. For example:

• In April 2002, a comprehensive Chronic Disease Web site is launched, designed to help both patients and providers with the prevention and management of common chronic diseases. This year, work is also completed on a patient registry for diabetes, as well as clinical practice guidelines for diabetes and for Hepatitis B and C.
• In November 2002, the Interior Health Tele-Imaging System is officially launched in Kamloops, allowing medical images to be transferred digitally and giving patients in the Interior faster access to expertise and information.
• And in March 2003, a Provincial Strategy for Emergency Room Services is launched, highlighting work coordinated by the Provincial Health Services Authority to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of emergency department services.

Keeping people as healthy as possible . . .

This year, the ministry also intensified efforts to protect and promote a healthier population — with the goal of improving public health and the sustainability of BC's health system over time. Specific highlights include:

• A comprehensive $16 million action plan to strengthen drinking water protection and safeguard public health and safety is announced in June 2002.
• More than 27,000 BC First Nations Health Handbooks — designed to address unique health care needs and increase awareness of the BC NurseLine — are distributed to First Nations households, band council offices, and friendship centres in January 2003.
• In February 2003, the province's immunization program expands to better protect children at high-risk for bacterial meningitis, ear and throat infections, and pneumonia, through an additional $18 million funding commitment. This program will be fully implemented in 2005/06.
• And in March 2003, when the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) presents an unexpected national challenge, BC's integrated planning and public health platform allows it to respond quickly and comprehensively to contain the impact of this public health threat. Shortly after, investments in health research pay off when British Columbia researchers lead the world to map the genetic structure of the SARS virus.

Managing the health system within budget . . .

In keeping with the commitment to make BC's health system sustainable over the long term, the ministries and health authorities explored a wide range of options and alternatives to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery, while maintaining accountability to British Columbians. This includes determining how to engage private sector innovation and expertise within a publicly funded and administered health care system. Specifically:

• In December 2002, after extensive consultation, government retains therapeutic substitution as an effective measure to protect public access to important classes of drugs, while committing to a broad review of PharmaCare and working with the industry and health professionals on other cost-containment strategies.
• In January 2003, government moves forward with the creation of a long-awaited hospital and cancer centre in Abbotsford through a unique public-private sector partnership. This arrangement allows limited public resources for capital projects to be leveraged through private sector involvement, while protecting the public health system. The year also sees the creation of the Patient Service Delivery Policy Framework, allowing the ministry to partner with the private sector in the provision of certain clinical services within the framework of the Canada Health Act.
• And in February 2003, Fair PharmaCare is announced, modernizing the provincial drug insurance plan to make it more equitable and ensure financial assistance with prescription drug costs and other medical supplies is available to those families who need it most.

Planning and support to strengthen our health system . . .

2002/03 marked a significant shift in the way the Ministries of Health collect and report information, and how they use that information for health planning decisions. These decisions can range from how to treat depression effectively, to how health services are used in various regions. BC made significant progress this year providing both information and investments in infrastructure to support the health system. For example:

• September 2002 sees the release of nationally agreed upon health indicators for the first time ever. BC was able to report on more indicators than any other jurisdiction, with evidence showing British Columbians were generally healthy and had a quality health system on which they could depend. This report, entitled "How Healthy are We?" is available on the Ministry of Health Planning's Web site in both detailed and summary versions.
• In October 2002, the Minister of State for Mental Health releases the Provincial Depression Strategy Report and the Provincial Anxiety Disorders Strategy Report, outlining innovative and effective ways to increase awareness and deliver services.
• Also, over the last year, government announces $134 million to expand medical school facilities at the University of British Columbia and establish satellite medical programs at the University of Northern British Columbia and the University of Victoria.
• In December 2002, $21.5 million is made available to educate, recruit and retain nurses, including $10.7 million from the Ministry of Advanced Education. These dollars fund several initiatives, including new nursing education seats, grants for approximately 200 nurses to take upgrading or refresher courses to return to the nursing profession, and specialty or continuing education opportunities for over 1,000 nurses. Also this year, health science education seats are increased for allied health workers such as medical imaging technologists, medical laboratory technologists and resiratory therapists. As well, new education spaces are provided for midwivery and resident care attendants.
• And in February 2003, health experts from around the world meet with the minister, key stakeholders and decision makers in BC to add advice and expertise to the BC health planning process. A comprehensive Industry Analysis and Summary of Expert Input is compiled for the ministry's public Web site.
• In February 2003, in further support for evidence-based health care, $8 million was provided to the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research to conduct research for improving the effectiveness of health care reforms.