2023-09-08 04:00:00
Nearly 2,300 seniors are occupying hospital beds unnecessarily while waiting to be transferred elsewhere, a number that has climbed precipitously since the spring and represents a “time bomb” with the arrival of virus season.
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“It’s extremely worrying,” reacts the Dre Ariane Murray, head of the regional department of general medicine in Montreal. All these patients should not be in the hospital. […] But the network is not capable [de les transférer] because we have a shortage of employees.”
Alternative level of care (ALC) users are all those patients (often elderly) who have completed hospitalization and are waiting to be transferred elsewhere.
For example, NSA patients are waiting for a place:
- In a long-term care accommodation center (CHSLD)
- In rehabilitation
- In residence for seniors
- As an intermediate resource
- At home with adapted help or palliative care
Normally, they must occupy a maximum of 8% of hospital beds, according to the target of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS). However, this rate currently reaches 14% in Quebec, or 2,298 patients. Last January, there were 1,770 of them in this situation.
In Montreal, the rate even climbs to 16%, double the target. Concretely, 902 patients occupy a bed unnecessarily, or 50% more than last April (a little less than 600).
“It keeps going up.”
On the North Shore, 30% of beds are occupied by patients waiting to go elsewhere. In the Capitale-Nationale, 210 seniors also need a place better suited to their needs.
“It’s a time bomb, believes the Dr Gilbert Boucher, president of the Association of Emergency Medicine Specialists of Quebec. Since May, it hasn’t stopped going up.”
Dr. Gilbert Boucher, president of the Association of Emergency Medicine Specialists of Quebec
Courtesy photo
With the arrival of fall and the virus season (flu, COVID-19, etc.), pressure will be greater on Quebec’s emergencies.
“When the emergencies are overflowing, we will ask ourselves: “Why isn’t it going up to the floors?” predicts the Dr Butcher. But, if there are almost 1000 beds that are not available [à Montréal]it does not work.”
Months to wait
According to our information, patients can wait weeks or even months in hospital before getting a place elsewhere. The main reason? Staff shortage. In Montreal, nearly 200 CHSLD beds are completely closed due to lack of doctors.
“For each closed bed, there is a patient who will stay in the hospital,” summarizes D.re Murray. There is a direct link, and then it goes back to the emergency room.”
The latter notes that the government has invested significant sums in home care, but that the lack of employees prevents seniors from receiving appropriate care. The MSSS invests more than $2 billion annually in home support.
No less than 4,560 seniors are currently waiting for a place in CHSLDs in Quebec.
“Someone has to die”
The wait at the hospital before getting a place in a CHSLD is too long and demoralizes seniors, deplores a lady who accompanies them on this difficult journey which can last several months.
“What do you mean it’s taking so long? In fact, someone has to die,” summarizes Élise Fortin, whose company supports seniors, many of whom are under the supervision of the Public Curator.
Three years ago, this trained recreational therapist launched her company Chère Élise, which helps elderly people in the Quebec region. His observation is clear: the weeks spent in hospital waiting for a place are harmful to their health. And those who don’t have family to support them or put pressure on the network are even more vulnerable.
“When they end up in the hospital, their morale takes a nosedive,” she notes. You have to go to batpost this on social networks so that there is a change.
Marcel Tremblay / Agence QMI
More than a month in the hospital
This summer, an elderly woman she was accompanying waited 42 days to get a place in residence.
“I was unconscious,” admits Ms. Fortin, who had to insist that we offer her the care to which she was entitled. We will run out of beds at some point. It’s worrying.”
Indeed, studies clearly show that seniors become deconditioned in the hospital, where employees do not have time to make them walk or stimulate them intellectually.
“It has a direct impact on the patient. They are at greater risk of phlebitis and delirium, cites the Dre Ariane Murray, head of the regional department of general medicine in Montreal. And the longer they stay, the more likely they are to catch hospital illnesses.”
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