title: Sustaining change: the imperative for patient access strategies.
abstract: The paper by Trypuc, MacLeod and Hudson provides a timely and important overview of methods to sustain provincial wait time strategies. The emphasis on accountability for patient access to timely care throughout the healthcare system comes through strongly--as it should. These accountabilities are made "real" through purchase service agreements. Physician-hospital relationships are a fundamental aspect of this accountability. This commentary suggests the inclusion of two additional supporting tools in addition to those cited by the authors of the lead paper--quality monitoring and the use of industrial engineering techniques for queue management and patient flow analysis. Strong and persistent leadership of patient access strategies will ensure sustainable change.
authors.forename: Peter A R
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Glynn
mesh_terms: D006282:Health Personnel / Q000458:organization & administration; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009864:Ontario; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010361:Patients; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017749:Total Quality Management; D014850:Waiting Lists