Technology Evaluation in the Elderly presents to Health Council

“Technology Evaluation in the Elderly Network seeks to make positive change in the care of the seriously ill elderly, system-wide and nation-wide.” said Dr. Birtwhistle. “The Network is very grateful for this important opportunity to inform and engage policy-makers at the national level. This type of dialogue is essential to realizing those goals.”
 
Dr. Birtwhistle informed Chair Joy Smith (MP Kildonan – St. Paul) and the committee members about how the Network is working to foster research and dissemination of information to ensure the appropriate use of health care technologies that fulfill the patient’s wishes. The House Committee heard that TVN is examining low-tech (e.g. data collection tools) and high-tech solutions (e.g. life preserving machines, diagnostic tests and treatment).
 
Dr. Birtwhistle declared that the need to improve the communication and decision-making about the appropriate use of a broad range of health care technologies for the seriously ill elderly and at the end of life must be a priority. One in five elderly people in the Western world, who die in hospital, die in the intensive care unit. The proportion of patients 80 years or older who are admitted to the ICU in Canada has increased from 10% in the mid 1990’s to nearly 20% today.
 
Dr. Birtwhistle cited a number of possibilities: every Canadian having an advance care plan so that when they enter hospital family and health professionals know their wishes; developing an ethical framework about how technology should be used in the seriously ill elderly patient and at the end of life, and making health information available to whoever is providing care.
 
For more details on Dr. Birtwhistle’s remarks, click here to open the announcement