A new look at the performance of residential and long-term care centres in Québec

The CSBE had a new method for evaluating the performance of long-term care facilities, which highlights major disparities across the territory. We accompanied them in the presentation of their study results, which highlighted numerous points for improvement in order to reach a satisfactory level of performance that met the needs of the population.

Cover of the report "La performance du système de soins et services aux aînés en CHSLD" as well as an electronic tablet displaying the home page of the html version of the report.

The process and the data first

We developed a report (in French) and an html version of it with the mandate to push further the design and data visualization, while respecting visual identity of CSBE.

For the cover page, an eye-catching image that still hints at the scientific process and the data. The beam of light, which is part of the CSBE’s visual identity, is used here as a triple symbol:

  1. 22 beams represent the 22 Quebec territorial service networks (TSNs) at the heart of the evaluation.
  2. These beams represent the lit windows of a home for the elderly, which is the living environment studied.
  3. Their variable orientation highlights the variations in the numbers and research results.

 

The silhouette of a home is drawn with lines that occasionally break and resume, like a fragmented system.

Cover page of the report "La performance du système de soins et services aux aînés en CHSLD" with a dark blue background. It shows a shape with a rectangular outline in which there are 5 rows of small triangles in a gradient going from turquoise blue to dark blue. Below this set is the title of the report mentioned above, as well as the subtitle "2022 Assessment Report".

Tension between supply and needs

Some of the data in the report put Quebec in the Canadian context. Here we see the age of the population on one side and the number of beds available for their long-term care on the other. The darker shades make Quebec stand out.

Horizontal bar graph comparing the percentage of the population aged 65 and over in Quebec with other Canadian provinces (British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta), OECD countries (Germany, France, Sweden, United Kingdom, Netherlands) and other countries (Canada, Australia, United States, New Zealand). Quebec ranks fifth.
Horizontal lollipop chart comparing the number of long-term care beds per 1,000 population aged 75 and over in Canada's provinces and territories. Quebec comes last.

Before

Horizontal bar graph. Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia form the first group. The other countries form a second group (Germany, France, Sweden, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, United States, New Zealand). Map of Canada on which the provinces and territories are delimited. Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia are coloured in different shades of blue and the number of long-term care beds per 1,000 population aged 75 and over is shown.

Two is better than one

The report is structured around nine dimensions, each with sub-indicators. The objective is to represent their performance in a clear way.

The first graph below presents the scores in each of the sub-dimensions by separating two levels of information. Above, the current average score is represented by a colored point that is connected to the previous average score by an arrow, emphasizing the evolution of the score over time. Below, a histogram shows the distribution of scores across the 22 RTS, revealing their variability across the province.

The second type of graph presents the compilation of results for the different regions of Quebec. The integration of the legend into the scale and the proximity of the category to the performance make it easier to read.

Histograms showing the scores for the sustainability dimension in CHSLDs for all of Quebec over the 2019-2020 period. All scores are fair and the trend is downward.
Horizontal bar graph ranking the TSNs in Quebec according to the score of the sustainability dimension in CHSLDs. The score for Quebec as a whole is used as a benchmark. The TSNs with a high score are in turquoise, average score in yellow and poor score in dark orange.

Before

Histograms showing the scores for the sustainability dimension in CHSLDs for all of Quebec over the 2019-2020 period. All scores are fair and the trend is downward. Horizontal bar graph ranking the TSNs in Quebec according to the score of the sustainability dimension in CHSLDs. The score for Quebec as a whole is used as a benchmark. The TSNs with a high score are in green, average score in yellow and poor score in red.

Small multiples, big results

The report compares each dimension in each region to the Quebec average.

These barbell charts therefore allow you to see where each region is exceeding or not exceeding the provincial average. In addition, the graphs themselves are organized in order of performance.

Barbell chart and small multiples. Each score is compared with that of Quebec as a whole. The nine TSNs represented have three or four dimensions with good or excellent scores (Montérégie-Est, Capitale-Nationale, Outaouais, Centre-Ouest-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Nord-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Estrie-CHU de Sherbrooke, Lanaudière, Des Îles).
Graph in small multiples representing the score of four dimensions (matching needs, person-centered care and services, continuity and coordination, safety) for all TSNs.

Before

Radar chart showing the scores of each CHSLD on ten assessed dimensions: Sustainability, Alignment to Population Need, Accessibility, Productivity, Intensity of Care, Overall Quality, Person-Centered Care and Services, Continuity and Coordination, Safety, Relevance. Scatterplot that places the value for the dimension of Alignment to Need against an expected value. All but three of the TSNs have a low relative value and are in the red.

From complex table to clear chart

Some of the tabulated data were quite complex, as they referred to different concepts: annual variation and total variation. We therefore harmonized the data in collaboration with the client and presented them in a way that allows comparison of their evolution, in addition to highlighting the COVID period.

This image shows a line graph on a white background. There are three lines representing the change in scores for three dimensions from 2015-2016 through 2020-2021. The Intensity dimension is in red and sees an increase in its score of +30% over the period. The Accessibility dimension is in purple and sees a decrease in its score of -20% over the period. The Quality of life at work dimension is in green and has seen a decrease in its score of -30% over the period. The first year of the COVID-19 pandemic is represented by a grey background.

Before

The image shows the original figure, a table with 3 rows and 3 columns. The first column includes the names of the three dimensions whose changes are being measured (Accessibility, Intensity, Quality of Work Life). The second column gives the figures for the average annual variation in scores from 2015-2016 to 2019-2020 in percentages. The third column gives the total change in scores from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021 in percentages.
Cover and double page spread of the report "La performance du système de soins et services aux aînés en CHSLD" as well as a cell phone displaying a graphic from the report.
« Back to projects

Related projects

Taking nature into account(ing)
How can we show that protecting biodiversity can be good for the economy?
Client: World Bank Group
Year: 2021
See the project
Integration of new immigrants in Montréal
How to best communicate the efforts to finance integration activities for new immigrants in Montreal?
Client: Ville de Montréal
Year: 2020
See the project

We will be happy to help you reveal your worth. Here is how you can reach us.

© Voilà: 2022 – Design : Aanagram.ca – Coding : marie-evegratton.com

M