Chapter Summary
Dr. Asif Khowaja and Kristin Mechelse
It is imperative that resource allocation decisions are based on health economic evidence and that contingencies are planned for in the future. It is inevitable that we will face another worldwide tragedy like the COVID-19 pandemic, but we will hopefully learn from this experience and not make the same mistakes in the future. As learned in this chapter, LTC homes in Canada (and across the world) have suffered on numerous fronts throughout this pandemic – the outbreaks, deaths, supply, and staffing shortages have highlighted the need for drastic changes in LTC. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we need to look more closely at existing processes, direct more appropriate funding to help fix the neglected health care system, and provide the necessary human resources to support LTC homes.
The Ministry of LTC has recently made funding commitments for the next three years to assist with increasing the number of direct hours of care, infection, prevention, and control measures (IPAC), and additional support to programs and services. The Niagara Region LTC homes are currently in the process of creating many new frontline positions with this necessary funding (e.g., Personal Support Workers, Registered Nurses, Registered Practical Nurses, recreation staff). Ultimately, we need to do everything possible to provide the support and quality of care that the residents in these facilities deserve, and this additional funding will certainly be a positive step in the right direction.
In addition, the dedicated and compassionate staff that work in health care deserve recognition and appreciation for all they have done and will continue to do to provide the best level of care and support possible for residents in LTC during an incredibly challenging time. These individuals have been called health care heroes, but most would say they work in this environment because they want to help others and give back, not to receive recognition or praise. An important outcome of this pandemic would be that additional staffing and safer working conditions are made top priorities. If the Canadian and/or provincial government continues to increase the financial support provided to LTC homes as promised, this could help turn a tragedy into a world of new possibilities. Together, we need to find new and creative ways to use the health economic evidence learned in this chapter to inform decisions about resource allocation and set out to truly make a difference in the lives of those who need and deserve the best care and quality of life possible.
Overall, health economics evidence could play a pivotal role in informing stakeholders at all levels of the costs and relative health gains (or losses) of interventions in health care. Undoubtedly, our health care needs have increased as we live through the COVID-19 pandemic. Future pandemics will similarly impose a significant challenge to the health sector in Canada and around the world. Health care costs continue to surpass the historical expenditure trends, and future pandemics will make funding choices even more difficult. Thus, there are substantial implications for data-driven decisions based on comprehensive costs and health outcomes in health care.
