STABILITY AND TRENDS OVER 3 YEARS OF DATA

Because the health status of a population does not usually respond imm ediately to interventions, whether social or medical, the ability to a nalyze change over time is important. Therefore, patterns of change an d stability in health status and health care use of Manitoba residents during a 3-year period from 1990 to 1992 were analyzed using the Popu lation-based Health Information System. This article presents summary findings and discusses methodological and policy issues arising from t he analyses. A small but significant decrease in premature mortality ( the primary health status indicator) was observed in most regions of t he province, but two remote, northern regions, those whose residents s cored at high socioeconomic risk, remained distinguished for their poo r health status. These ''poor health'' regions also had the highest co ntact rates with primary caregivers, raising questions about the role of the health care system in improving the health of the population. A persistent increase in surgery was observed in several regions, led b y increases in outpatient surgery over and above increases in the elde rly population and beyond substitution for inpatient procedures. This trend (not obvious before these analyses) is important as hospitals mo ve to expand their outpatient facilities in response to restraints on inpatient care.