Doctors Nova Scotia is working with government to ensure the Health Facilities Licensing Act, if passed, allows for the best possible care to patients.

The act, proposed in November 2006, would allow some health-care services traditionally provided in hospital s to be performed in a community setting. The legislation outlines rules and standards to ensure the community facilities are safe and top quality care will be provided to patients.

Overall, Doctors Nova Scotia is supportive of some services being provided in a community setting. Every day doctors struggle to keep up with the needs of their patients. They are looking for new ways to provide quality and more timely care to their patients.

Having access to care in various locations is a step in the right direction. In fact, it’s already in place and has been working well for many years.

Family doctors provide care and services in the community. It wouldn’t make sense to send patients to hospital for a Pap test or flu shot when their family doctor has the expertise and equipment to provide such care at their office. Similarly, not all services provided in a hospital today need to be done there. Basic procedures that require minimal equipment without hospital admittance could easily be done elsewhere in community. In fact, moving some services to locations closer to patients may free-up operating rooms, specialized equipment and health-care providers’ time in the hospital to care for more critically ill patients.

Moving in the direction of community care will require careful thought. New processes must be introduced to ensure patients have easy and equal access to quality care with high standards – no matter where it’s provided. Work also needs to be done to ensure there are enough doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals to provide care in both settings.