Canada’s leaders must prioritize crumbling health infrastructure

Laying a strong foundation for a pan-Canadian approach to health care must start with federal investment in health infrastructure.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed serious weaknesses and gaps in our patchwork Canadian health system. However, the COVID-19 crisis has also given us the unique opportunity to see how best to rebuild our system to better meet current challenges and those sure to come. For the federal government, Wednesday’s Speech from the Throne provides an important opportunity to increase support for health care infrastructure, a move that will have a significant, positive, and long-lasting impact on the health of Canadians.

Time for federal leadership

Healthcare quality and outcomes hindered by access issues

This article reviews perceptions of Canada’s public and health professionals regarding access and quality of healthcare. Principal data sources were 13 sequential Health Care in Canada (HCIC) surveys, from 1998 to 2018. A persistent and growing issue in all regions of the country is concern around timely access to care. This concern about timely access involves all major components of healthcare delivery and is anticipated to worsen. Sub-optimal access continues to undermine quality of care.

Green is Green

Improving the Health, Economic and Environmental Impact, Resilience and Sustainability of Canada’s Hospitals through Green Infrastructure

It is estimated that Canadian hospitals account for 8% of public green-house gas emissions and 11% of total public energy consumption. We believe it is time for Canada to join the movement and include hospital considerations in its sustainable development, green infrastructure and climate change agenda.

Hospitals Building Healthier Communities

Investing Today to Meet the Needs of Tomorrow

With an economy in a state of flux and rising unemployment rates, hospitals provide much needed economic support and stability to communities across Canada. In many communities, a hospital may be the largest employer and can become an integrated part of the community’s framework. HealthCareCAN members alone employ over 600,000 Canadians. However, the state of infrastructure in our country is preventing our research hospitals from performing these essential roles.

Deferred Hospital Maintenance

There is More to ‘a Building’ than Building it

Review the evidence of deferred maintenance in Canadian hospitals and find out what deferred maintenance is, why it’s important, and what needs to be done about it.