CÔTE-DES-NEIGES – In the latest cost-cutting efforts, the Montreal Jewish General Hospital has announced it is eliminated 22 beds.
“It’s certainly a step forward in two ways,” said Dr. Louise Minor.
The cut represents about three per cent of the Jewish General’s 367 beds.
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The aim is to focus more on home care instead of keeping patients in the hospital.
“As a rule across most parts of the world, hospitals are closing beds and taking care of patients at home,” Minor explained.
“We’re trying to send them home sooner.”
The cuts are in a section of the hospital dedicated to older patients with less complex medical issues.
The hospital said the money saved will be used in other places.
“It’s not the intent to put all the savings into surgery,” said Minor, citing a previous report where the Jewish General Hospital cut its budget by $23 million in 2014-2015.
“We need to put some in home care to figure out how we will support these people outside the hospital.”
Right now it’s unclear how much eliminating the beds will actually save.
They’re expected to be gone by April.