Realpolitik

Just so you have the context of this post, I originally intended to post it on my HQC Advanced Access blog, following the recent Saskatchewan provincial election (which shut down any potentially politically inflammatory communication for the duration). However, perhaps it's a little too politically spicy for HQC, so here it is on PBW.

I'm back! Sorry to abandon you for a few weeks, but our provincial election rules prohibit propaganda. Any organization linked to the government (including health regions and this blog's sponsor, Health Quality Council) had to put the lid on anything that smelled political for the duration of the campaign. What do they think I could possibly say that could be considered subversive?


How about this: Advanced Access is the saviour of Canada's public health care system!


OK, it's no Communist Manifesto, but I sincerely believe it.


When proponents of privately-funded health care point out the failings of our system, long wait times are their major argument for creating a parallel delivery system. They assume that the present situation can't change; that it's inevitable to have these access problems.


But, how would a privately-funded system guarantee access to services? By using industrial methods of matching supply and demand, AKA Advanced Access! That's just good business.


You tricky M.B.A.'s! You know that managing supply and demand properly is the key to eliminating wait times. So why don't you put your resources into doing this in the public system rather than undermining it with a privately-funded one? Provide incentives for physicians and health regions to implement Advanced Access. Train project managers to implement the principles of clinical office redesign, and make their services available at no cost. (It's working for us... thanks, Karen and HQC!)

How much money would go into creating the infrastructure of a parallel, private system? I’ll bet if we took a fraction of that amount, we could significantly improve wait times through appropriate management. (Note: I’m not a professional economist and so am entitled to make blatantly unfounded claims like this.)


Ideological fights waste time, energy and resources. We can improve our current system. Lobby for Advanced Access in physicians’ offices, CT scanners and surgical wait lists. If you’re already involved in improvement projects like this, then spread the word. Encourage your co-workers to get involved.


If you support a parallel, private system, then you're a bad, bad person. But, you can probably be rehabilitated. Comrade.