To meet the needs of an aging population, Ontario has a new action plan aimed at better integrating care and controlling health care costs. The reforms reallocate existing resources, bolstering primary care and at-home care for seniors, by increasing the power of the province's 14 local health integration units. Additionally, specialized not-for-profit clinics will perform some routine procedures, such as hip and cataract surgeries, to free up hospitals to provide acute care to patients.
Sources:
The Globe and Mail, Ontario Proposes Seamless Health Reforms in Bid to Cater to Aging Patients, January 30, 2012 (subscription required).
The Star, Deb Matthews Hopes to Save Money by Reorganizing Health System, January 30, 2012.