Ontario's Anesthesiologists

We are the Ontario Medical Association Section on Anesthesiology IMPROVING HEALTHCARE IN ONTARIO The Province of Ontario is facing significant financial challenges. As public servants, Ontario’s Anesthesiologists remain committed to reducing healthcare costs while continually improving access to important medical care. Collaborating, Ontario’s Anesthesiologists and other specialists, together with the Ontario Medical Association and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, found solutions to address the immediate need. As we are on the front lines of healthcare, we believe we are best positioned to find efficiencies. Building on the success of the Anesthesia Care Team model, which we helped create and implement, Ontario’s Anesthesiologists will continue to consider and propose innovative models for the effective and efficient provision of care. ANESTHESIA CARE TEAMS: A History of Improving Access and Healthcare Efficiency In 2003 Ontario was experiencing a significant shortage of anesthesiologists. Roughly 20 per cent of operating rooms were closed daily, and waiting lists for procedures like cataract surgery were months long. In response, the Section on Anesthesiology and the Ministry negotiated the Anesthesia Care Team model that increased the number of professionals providing sedation while decreasing the cost of this service overall. This model created the new position of anesthesia assistants who now help provide safe, efficient sedation for cataract surgery under the supervision of anesthesiologists. This collaborative solution has drastically cut cataract waiting times to mere weeks, rather than months or years. The value of this program has been frequently heralded by Minister Matthews herself.