More Health Information will be Posted Online to Make Access Easier for Media, Manitobans: Minister Blady

The Manitoba government is enhancing transparency by making more key health statistical information available online, Health Minister Sharon Blady announced today to mark International Right to Know Week in the province.

“Manitobans deserve to have easy access to information about how the health-care system is performing and we are committed to sharing as much detail as possible,” said Minister Blady.  “By making it available online, people can access this information more easily.”

New data available online will include emergency medical services response times for rural Manitoba such as information on how long ambulances take to arrive after a 911 call is placed from within a community.

Other information that will be posted online as it becomes available will include:

• an archive of wait-time information for procedures such as hip and knee surgeries, and diagnostic tests such as MRI and CT scans;
• population counts including births and deaths;
• updates on how many people have been connected with a family doctor or nurse practitioner through the Family Doctor Finder service;
• the number of visits to QuickCare Clinics;
• the prevalence of chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes;
• the number of hospitalizations for injuries;
• the numbers of physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners;
• the number of pediatric dental surgeries;
• the total number of clients in home care;
• the number of influenza immunizations; and
• data on pharmaceutical use.

“We want to be open, accountable and transparent about the health of Manitobans,” said Minister Blady.  “This new site will help people find the data they want and need to make informed choices about their health.”