NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area, Sahtu Settlement Area, Dehcho Region, North Slave Region, South Slave Region

Tags: health care, health care evaluation, emergency services

Objective(s): To carry out an analysis of NWT Medevac and Medical Travel System.

Project Description: The objectives of this study are: 1) To better understand the existing medical travel system for patients requiring emergency medical care; 2) To capture any potential areas where emergency health care could be improved by changing how and possibly where emergency health care is delivered; 3) To capture any potential areas where there is duplication and redundancy or other forms of inefficiency within the medical travel system for emergency medical patients; 4) To understand the needs and ideas of the health care workers in outlying areas with respect to emergency health care delivery that involves or potentially involves medical travel. The study will consist of: 1) A retrospective review of existing medical travel practices using existing Medical Travel and Stanton Hospital databases focusing on linking transfers to measurable outcomes such as hospital admissions, hospital length of stay etc. Specific patient information (patient names, names of smaller communities will be included as health regions or referred to as "small communities" only) would not be disclosed in this study. 2) Using the same databases for identification of areas where highest rates of transfers occur with focus on attempting to identify potential services that could be repatriated to communities from the bigger centers. 3) Using the same databases for identification of areas where inefficiencies occur. 4) Using subgroup analysis of the databases for identification of any criteria that is linked to higher patient morbidity or mortality to identify those who truly need “medevac”. 5) Using a series of confidential surveys for health care professionals to ascertain their reasons for why they think it is important to transfer patients and their satisfaction with the current system. The analysis of the medical transport system has enormous potential benefits for the NWT. By understanding the system better not only can we provide better and more efficient health care for remote communities but we could potentially save millions of dollars that could be redirected into other Government initiatives. Empowering communities by identifying those illnesses that can safely be managed in the community is another goal. Part of the intended analysis also involves surveying members of the communities about cultural attitudes and perceptions around the medical travel system as well. The results will be published in scientific journals. Any findings that have implications for health care delivery will be released to the communities by the department of health and/or respective health authorities. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from November 30, 2010 to December 31, 2010.