What happens when entire health care portfolios are gone?

Recent administrative changes to Alberta Health Services are bringing changes to the organization. Within the Calgary area, for example, Women’s Health Services no longer exist. And the word is that this may be slated to happen province-wide.

The immediate effects are seen in the absence of top level management positions to advocate for health care services geared toward women’s health care. At a time of record numbers of maternity cases, maternity units in dire need of renovation and updating and increasing demand for gynecology services, there is no leadership with a specific interest in this specialty. There has also been a hiring freeze placed on nursing staff and support staff in these areas despite clear indications that there are understaffing issues and pending retirements.

What does this mean for medical liability attorneys? It means there are going to be cases emerging as a direct result of insufficient resources to provide the standard of care expected in Canadian hospitals. The staff will not available to maintain the current standard of nurse-patient ratios. Less qualified and experienced staff will be hired as a cost-cutting bridging measure which puts patients at risk. The equipment necessary to monitor patients for their safety and best outcome will either not be available or will be outdated and not meet current standards. The physical environment of the hospital patient will deteriorate—even to the point of being dangerous from an infectious disease standpoint with such things as cracks in the floors under delivery beds and beds unable to be cleaned to acceptable standards because they are need of replacement after years of use and breakdowns.

Nurses are aware of the shortfalls of working within a hospital environment during times of economic downturns while patient populations and acuity rise. Having that experience and perspective will assist you in evaluating and building your next case involving women’s health gone wrong.