Do richer provinces have shorter waiting times to see specialists?
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《加拿大医疗协会学报》
According to the 2004 National Physician Survey Database, provinces with the greatest gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia) had among the longest wait times for urgent referrals to a specialist, in particular Alberta (Fig. 1). Prince Edward Island and Quebec had the shortest wait times, despite having lower GDPs.
Aside from Quebec, which had among the shortest wait times for urgent referrals and the greatest number of specialists per 100 000 population, there was no clear pattern between wait times and the number of specialists per capita. For example, Ontario and BC respectively had the third and fourth largest number of specialists per 100 000 population, yet they had longer than average wait times. Multiple regression analysis showed a statistically significant negative relation between the percentage of wait times from referral to consultation that were 1 week or less and the provincial GDP (p = 0.04) and a nonsignificant relation between such wait times and the number of specialists (p = 0.43).
Although PEI had the shortest wait times for urgent referrals, these results may not be comparable to those of other provinces because of the relatively small number of specialists in the province.
These survey results suggest that, first, there are factors affecting the efficiency of our provincial health care systems other than the number of specialists per capita and, second, the richer provinces (in terms of GDP per capita) are not performing the best in this measure of health care efficiency and access.(Mark O. Baerlocher and Al)
Aside from Quebec, which had among the shortest wait times for urgent referrals and the greatest number of specialists per 100 000 population, there was no clear pattern between wait times and the number of specialists per capita. For example, Ontario and BC respectively had the third and fourth largest number of specialists per 100 000 population, yet they had longer than average wait times. Multiple regression analysis showed a statistically significant negative relation between the percentage of wait times from referral to consultation that were 1 week or less and the provincial GDP (p = 0.04) and a nonsignificant relation between such wait times and the number of specialists (p = 0.43).
Although PEI had the shortest wait times for urgent referrals, these results may not be comparable to those of other provinces because of the relatively small number of specialists in the province.
These survey results suggest that, first, there are factors affecting the efficiency of our provincial health care systems other than the number of specialists per capita and, second, the richer provinces (in terms of GDP per capita) are not performing the best in this measure of health care efficiency and access.(Mark O. Baerlocher and Al)