Venice Family Clinic
Waiting Too Long: Reducing and Better Managing Wait Times in BC
A Policy Paper by the BCMA’s Council on Health Economics & Policy
June 2006
British Columbia Medical Association June 2006
The BCMA Council on Health Economics and Policy (CHEP) reviews and formulates policy through the use of project oriented groups of practising physicians and professional staff. The Project Group for this paper includes:
Wait List Management Project Group Membership Dr. Don Milliken, Chair, Psychiatry, Victoria Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid, General Practice, Trail Dr. John Mathieson, Radiology, Victoria Dr. Surendranath Sanmugasunderam, Ophthalmology, Vancouver Dr. Keith Stothers, Orthopedic Surgery, Vancouver
BCMA Council on Health Economics and Policy (CHEP) Membership 2005-2006 Dr. Marshall Dahl, Chair – Internal Medicine/Endocrinology, Vancouver Dr. Geoffrey Appleton – General Practice, Terrace Dr. Jack Burak – General Practice, Vancouver Dr. Brian Gregory – Dermatology, Vancouver Dr. Trina Larsen Soles – General Practice, Golden Dr. Alexander (Don) Milliken – Psychiatry, Victoria Dr. David F. Smith – Paediatrics, Vancouver
Staff support was provided by Michael Epp, Director of Policy and Planning; Jonathan Agnew, Senior Policy Consultant; Michael Kary, Research Analyst; and Linda Kowalski, Administrative Assistant.
Contents of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, provided the intended use is for non-commercial purposes and full acknowledgement is given to the British Columbia Medical Association.
British Columbia Medical Association June 2006
Table of Contents
Executive Summary / 1 I. II. III. IV. V. VI. The Wait List Problem / 5 Wait List Management Techniques / 9 Wait List Management in British Columbia / 11 Wait List Management in Canada / 14 International Scan on Wait List Management / 21 Recommendations for Reducing Waits in BC / 27
Conclusion / 64 Appendix A List of Recommendations / 65 Appendix B Principles for
A Policy Paper by the BCMA’s Council on Health Economics & Policy
June 2006
British Columbia Medical Association June 2006
The BCMA Council on Health Economics and Policy (CHEP) reviews and formulates policy through the use of project oriented groups of practising physicians and professional staff. The Project Group for this paper includes:
Wait List Management Project Group Membership Dr. Don Milliken, Chair, Psychiatry, Victoria Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid, General Practice, Trail Dr. John Mathieson, Radiology, Victoria Dr. Surendranath Sanmugasunderam, Ophthalmology, Vancouver Dr. Keith Stothers, Orthopedic Surgery, Vancouver
BCMA Council on Health Economics and Policy (CHEP) Membership 2005-2006 Dr. Marshall Dahl, Chair – Internal Medicine/Endocrinology, Vancouver Dr. Geoffrey Appleton – General Practice, Terrace Dr. Jack Burak – General Practice, Vancouver Dr. Brian Gregory – Dermatology, Vancouver Dr. Trina Larsen Soles – General Practice, Golden Dr. Alexander (Don) Milliken – Psychiatry, Victoria Dr. David F. Smith – Paediatrics, Vancouver
Staff support was provided by Michael Epp, Director of Policy and Planning; Jonathan Agnew, Senior Policy Consultant; Michael Kary, Research Analyst; and Linda Kowalski, Administrative Assistant.
Contents of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, provided the intended use is for non-commercial purposes and full acknowledgement is given to the British Columbia Medical Association.
British Columbia Medical Association June 2006
Table of Contents
Executive Summary / 1 I. II. III. IV. V. VI. The Wait List Problem / 5 Wait List Management Techniques / 9 Wait List Management in British Columbia / 11 Wait List Management in Canada / 14 International Scan on Wait List Management / 21 Recommendations for Reducing Waits in BC / 27
Conclusion / 64 Appendix A List of Recommendations / 65 Appendix B Principles for