Chapter two: Statistical overview: 2004-2019

Between 2004 and 2019, the GLTCRC reviewed a total of 347 cases and generated 787 recommendations aimed towards the prevention of future similar deaths. On average, the GLTCRC has reviewed 21.6 cases and generated 49.1 recommendations per year.

It is recognized that there is an inherent bias as to which cases undergo review (i.e. most cases are discretionary referrals sent to GLTCRC due to the presence of identified concerns and issues). There is also the possibility of researcher bias in attributing certain themes to cases and recommendations. It is also recognized however, that regardless of these potential biases, there are certain recurring themes that have emerged over the years. These themes can be applied at a broader level to cases and more specifically to focused recommendations.

The themes identified include:

• medical and nursing management
• communication and documentation
• use of drugs in the elderly
• use of restraints
• determination of capacity and consent for treatment/DNR
• the acute care and long-term care industry in Ontario, including the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC)
• other: includes other Ontario ministries, justice and legal systems

The following statistical analysis on themes has been broken down into two distinct sections:

• an analysis of themes based on individual cases reviewed
• an analysis of themes based on individual recommendations made

By breaking the analysis down into cases vs. recommendations, it is possible to observe general trends relating to themes that emerge throughout cases that have been referred and reviewed by the GCTCRC, compared to themes that have emerged from specific recommendations. 

Trends based on themes in cases helps to identify what issues or themes are present in the cases that are being referred to the GLTCRC for review. These findings help to identify if there is a trend in the types of cases that are being referred and reviewed.

Trends based on themes in recommendations helps to identify what specific themes/issues have been identified and addressed in recommendations aimed toward the prevention of future similar deaths. A trend in themes of recommendations helps to identify specific areas where the need for change, action or attention has been suggested.

Graph One: % of major issues based on theme identified in GLTCRC cases from 2004-2019

From 2004 until 2019, the GLTCRC has reviewed a total of 347 cases. 

Graph One demonstrates that in 48% of the cases reviewed by the GLTCRC from 2004-2019, issues relating to medical/nursing management were identified. This is followed by 37% of the cases where issues pertaining to the acute and long-term care industry (including MOHLTC) were noted and 30% of the cases where issues of communication/documentation were present. Other key themes included use of drugs in the elderly (19%), use of restraints (4%), determination of consent and capacity/DNR (4%) and other^{footnote *[*]} (9%). 

Note: Many cases had more than one theme/issue attributed to the recommendations.

Graph Two: % of major issues based on theme(s) identified in GLTCRC recommendations (2004-2019)

From 2004 until 2019, the GLTCRC generated 787 recommendations aimed at the prevention of future deaths.

Graph Two demonstrates the percentage of common themes/issues attributed to the individual recommendations made from the cases reviewed from 2004-2019. Some complex recommendations may have been recorded as having more than one theme or issue. It was found that 40% of all recommendations made were related to medical or nursing management while 23% of the recommendations touched on the acute and long-term care industry, including the MOHLTC.  The other themes/issues that were present, but that were less frequently assigned to the recommendations, were related to communication/documentation (20%), use of drugs in the elderly (14%), determination of capacity and consent for treatment or DNR (3%), the use of restraints (4%) and other^{footnote *[*]} (6%).

Note: Some recommendations had more than one theme/issue attributed.