Unlocking the Power in Partnerships

Ontario's health care system must work together to improve outcomes for chronic disease management

TORONTO, June 19, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, the Better Care Faster coalition released Putting Innovation to Work: Improving chronic disease management and health system sustainability in Ontario, highlighting seven recommendations to create an environment of shared responsibility whereby promising new innovations in chronic disease management (CDM) can be rapidly identified and adopted across the province.

The report affirms that - in order to manage the increasing burden of chronic disease on the health care system and the economy - health service providers, health professionals, patient groups, health charities and the private sector must work together to ensure innovative changes are implemented to continue providing high quality care to Ontarians.

"We need to eliminate barriers and unlock the potential of innovation to close the gap between the system we have today and the system we'll depend on tomorrow," says Robert Oliphant, Better Care Faster steering committee member and president and CEO of the Asthma Society of Canada. "Our members recognize we all have a role to play. Government should not be expected to act alone to address the major challenges facing our health care system."

Interview & Photo Opportunity - Better Care Faster proudly hosts Dr. Kenneth Thorpe, internationally recognized chronic disease specialist and Chairman of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, at the Economic Club of Canada today. An international thought leader and prominent member of President Clinton's administration, Dr. Thorpe will illustrate the power of using a collaborative approach to addressing chronic disease management, as well as outline the benefits and challenges that partnerships play in healthcare and the overall economy.

The Better Care Faster steering committee led the report development, which included round-table discussions and interviews with more than twenty health system leaders, representing disease and patient advocacy groups, health care professional associations, and research-based pharmaceutical companies.  The seven recommendations are:

1. Standardize the evaluation framework for innovative CDM initiatives
2. Simplify tracking and reporting of key performance indicators related to CDM
3. Formally mandate Health Quality Ontario to track and report on innovations in chronic disease
4. Create clear points of accountability for government efforts to support innovation in chronic disease management
5. Give innovators and early adopters greater flexibility to pursue innovation at the local level
6. Support efforts to communicate the impact of localized innovation and the potential for system benefit
7. Empower patients and their families to drive innovation in chronic disease management

As a next step, Better Care Faster intends to meet with members of Ontario's government and propose an action plan to implement the recommendations.

"We need to identify, validate and disseminate the many powerful innovations that currently exist in isolated pockets throughout our health care system, but that could benefit a far greater number of people and ultimately the health care system as a whole," says Peter Glazier, Better Care Faster steering committee member and vice president, development at the Ontario Lung Association. "The challenges of moving beyond the pilot phases to broad system adoption are currently very difficult to overcome - and our objective is to change that for the benefit of all Ontarians."

About Better Care Faster

Better Care Faster a coalition of organizations representing patients, healthcare providers and healthcare innovators working to improve the quality and sustainability of the Ontario health care system including: Alzheimer Society of Ontario, Arthritis Society Ontario, Asthma Society of Canada, Best Medicines Coalition, Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D), Canadian Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS) Foundation, Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD), Gastrointestinal Society, Institute for Optimizing Health Outcomes, Mood Disorders Association of Ontario, Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario, Ontario College of Family Physicians, Ontario Gerontology Association, Ontario Hospital Association,  Ontario Lung Association, Ontario Medical Association and Ontario Pharmacists' Association.

To read the full report and recommendations, visit www.bettercarefaster.ca.

SOURCE: Better Care Faster Coalition

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:

Robin Reece
Better Care Faster Coalition
[email protected]
416-937-8945

Rob McEwan
Argyle Communications
[email protected]
416-968-7311 ext. 242