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HealthCareCAN

The national voice of healthcare organizations and hospitals

HealthCareCAN
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To build back a better health system, start at the frontline

To build back a better health system, start at the frontline

Now is the winter of our discontent. As the cold and flu season threatens to send our country back into dreaded lockdowns, concern for patients and the wellbeing of frontline health workers should drive government discourse, not political posturing.

Now is the time for our nation to target ways that we can help those health workers on the frontline. If we don’t look after our caregivers, how can we expect them to care for our patients and families? In its opening section, the Speech from the Throne laid out the challenge well:

“This is our generation’s crossroads. Do we move Canada forward, or let people be left behind? Do we come out of this stronger, or paper over the cracks that the crisis has exposed? This is the time to remember who we are as Canadians. This is the opportunity to contain the global crisis and build back better, together.”2020 Speech from the Throne

Sadly, it is patients and those who provide the care, clean the health care institutions, and work in laboratories determining who has COVID-19 and who does not that are the ones paying the price for the cracks in our system . As you may have heard, Canada doesn’t have enough of any of these frontline healthcare champions. They are working flat out, many to the point of exhaustion.

In British Columbia, health authorities are scrambling to hire an additional 600 people to conduct contract tracing with those who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the province. Prior to arrival of COVID-19 in BC in March the province had less than 60 individuals tracking infectious disease outbreaks.

In Newfoundland and Labrador – where recruiting and retaining adequate numbers of physicians, nurses and other health care personnel is always a challenge – exhausted staff continue to try and work through the backlog of procedures even though they are short 200 nurses.

In Quebec, the Federation interprofessionnelle de la santé du Quebec, a union representing 76,000 nurses, nursing assistants, respiratory therapists and clinical perfusionists report that 1,700 workers have left their positions since March 1st due to the toll the COVID-19 battle has taken on them.

In Ontario, one registered practical nurse working in long-term care described how the stress related to practicing during the COVID-19 pandemic led her to throw herself into her work – where she was desperately needed –  at the expense of her own wellbeing

These harrowing tales should not be a reality in a country that is as prosperous as Canada. Yet here we are. But federal, provincial and territorial leaders have an opportunity now to show true leadership. This comes at a critical time when all Canadians are looking to them for solutions that address capacity issues, staffing shortages, and unpredictable funding. Addressing these barriers will reduce the burden placed on Canada’s frontline health workers, and provide much-needed stability, security and support so that they can continue delivering the high-quality care that Canadians deserve.

With that in mind, the federal government should also urgently examine the idea of instituting a special personal income tax break for frontline employees to recognize the hardships they have endured this year on our behalf. This could be in the form of a refundable credit or other measure that demonstrate Canada’s gratitude to those who have done so much under such difficult circumstances.

Winter is coming, and as hospital capacity reaches its limits, we all need to do our part. We need to wear a mask and physically distance. Our nation’s leaders need to work together to build a better health system for all Canadians.

Paul-Emile Cloutier, President and CEO
HealthCareCAN

 

Related content

Read HealthCareCAN’s submission to the Standing Committee on Health for its study on the emergency situation facing Canadians in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

Posted: May 17, 2022

Pandemic heightens urgency for Canada Health Transfers reform

Posted: April 20, 2022

See article as it originally appeared in the Hill Times By Renato Discenza, President and CEO, HealthPRO and Paul-Émile Cloutier, President and CEO, HealthCareCAN With the federal government having unveiled its spending plan for the coming year, the conversation between the federal government and the provincial and territorial governments over Canada Health Transfers (CHT) will

HealthCareCAN advocates for key system-level changes to substantially improve health services to children and youth.

Posted: April 12, 2022

Submission to House of Commons Committee Urges Health Workforce Action

Posted: April 1, 2022

HealthCareCAN and Covenant Health advocate for federal action to address Canada’s health human resources challenges during appearance before Standing Committee on Health.

Posted: February 16, 2022

Remarks by Paul-Émile Cloutier, President & CEO of HealthCareCAN (Feb. 16, 2022) Thank you, Mr. Chair., members of the committee, my fellow presenters. Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to you today. I am joined by my colleague Elaine Watson, who is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Covenant Health in Alberta,

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  • About us
    • Our Vision & Mission
    • Our Board of Directors
    • Our Strategic Plan
    • Our Annual Report
    • Our Team
  • Our Work
    • Champion Leading Practices
      • Antimicrobial Resistance
      • Cyber Security
      • Cultural Safety
      • Mental Health
      • Opioid Crisis
      • Patient Safety
      • Profiles in Leadership
    • Advocacy in Action
      • Strengthening the Foundations of Canadian Research
      • The Big Impact of Emerging Health Research Institutes
      • Building the Health Infrastructure of Tomorrow
      • Canada as a World Leading Destination for Clinical Trials
      • Considerations for a National Pharmacare Strategy
      • Identifying Health as a Key Player in the Digital Economy
      • National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Stewardship
    • Empower Lifelong Learning
  • Our Membership
    • Our Members
    • Our Members’ Vice Presidents of Health Research
    • Our Health Human Resources Advisory Committee
    • Member Benefits & FAQ
  • News & Events
    • From the CEO’s Desk
    • Grants & Awards
      • Legacy of Leadership Award
      • Excellence in Patient Engagement for Patient Safety
    • Events
      • Canada’s Health CEO Forum
      • Great Canadian Healthcare Debate
      • H on the Hill
      • National Health Leadership Conference
    • News
    • Press releases
  • Policy Documents and Government Submissions
  • Job Board
    • Jobs at HealthCareCAN
    • External Career Opportunities
    • Job Postings FAQ
  • Contact us
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