Treating symptoms, not the disease
The backlog in emergency rooms in Manitoba stems from problems before and after the ER, not in the ER. In Tom Brodbeck’s piece on the chronic and rising emergency room […]
The article "Treating symptoms, not the disease" highlights the chronic and rising emergency room crisis in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Experts point to a shortage of acute-care beds, which are needed to move acutely ill patients from the ER to hospital wards. This is due to a bed shortage in acute-care hospitals and a long-term care bed shortage outside acute-care hospitals. Brodbeck's article did not address the need to reduce patients' perceived or real need to visit the ER.
Chronic diseases, particularly chronic immune diseases, are on the rise globally and in Manitoba, where they have among the highest incidence rates in the world. These diseases often require expensive, advanced therapies such as biological and small molecule drugs. However, the administration of these drugs requires specialist expertise, which can further backlog the ER when patients arrive.
In Manitoba, the government's exception drug status (EDS) program requires doctors to apply for insurance coverage of post-deductible costs for these expensive drugs. The outdated standards of this program delay access to necessary therapy, worsening acute conditions and leading to ER visits. A nurse practitioner program at the Health Sciences Centre reduced ER visits for patients with inflammatory bowel disease, but the program collapsed due to lack of government funding.
The government should meet with physicians to explore ways to make Manitobans healthier and reduce ER visits.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
