Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement asks: Can our Healthcare Models Ensure Efficiency and Engage a Patient/Family-Centred Approach?

Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement

The Honourable Fred Horne, Alberta Minister of Health, joins healthcare leaders and patient advocates to explore the issue at the 7th Annual CEO Forum, February 6 in Montreal

MONTREAL, Feb. 6, 2013 /CNW/ - Finding ways to achieve healthcare efficiency, reduce costs and improve the patient experience is a multi-pronged goal widely shared by senior leaders of healthcare organizations, and one that is attainable, according to the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI).

"There is no single way to achieve this triple aim of healthcare, however experiences gleaned from the best evidence and emerging practices in parts of Canada are transforming healthcare systems and institutions for the better," said Maureen O'Neil, President, Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement.  "There are innovations underway that are proving quality care, efficiency and a strengthened patient/family-centred approach, are not mutually exclusive."

The annual CFHI CEO Forum being held this year on February 6 at the Omni Hotel in Montreal features current disease-management improvement projects and primary care delivery intervention models, and how Canadians as patients, view the issues of accessibility, treatment, efficiency and effectiveness, based on the latest Ipsos Reid poll.

Keynotes include:

Checking in with the Canadian Patient - better access, worse value than five years ago

John Wright, Vice-President, Ipsos Reid discusses the latest national survey which shows Canadians believe access to healthcare has improved, but the system remains inefficient and could provide better value for the dollar.

Achieving efficiencies in healthcare - the huge changes and real choices that Canadians face

Globe and Mail columnist and award-winning author Jeffrey Simpson, Chronic Condition (2012), explores the four options he sees for improving our healthcare system: Cuts in spending, tax increases, privatization, and reaping savings through increased efficiency.

One Alberta Solution - a novel approach to vascular care serves as a model for system-wide intervention

Dr. Tom Noseworthy, Associate Chief Medical Officer, Strategic Clinical Networks and Clinical Care Pathways, presents a stroke prevention and care plan targeting the province's rural populations. Alberta's system-wide vascular risk reduction strategy involves community pharmacies and presents an opportunity to lead the country in early diagnosis, ambulatory care, screening and early management for Canada's vulnerable populations.

Parental Practitioners - changing the paradigm of neonatal care in Canada

Dr. Shoo Lee, Scientific Director of CIHR's Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health, inspired by international models in Estonia and Japan, has revolutionized neonatal care in 16 Canadian hospitals.  By engaging parents as frontline practitioners, his work has reduced mortality, morbidity and length of stay in Canadian Neonatal Intensive Care Units resulting in annual savings of close to $10M.

Resource Reallocation at the CHU de Québec—An evidence-based decision-making process

Mr. Daniel La Roche, Director of Evaluation, Quality and Strategic Planning at the CHU de Québec, outlines the CFHI-funded improvement project of his team, and how evidence is being used for reassessment of clinical practices and resources reallocation.

Out with the old - the Nova Scotia diabetic test strip story proves a change in mindset is sometimes the best prescription

Peggy Dunbar, Coordinator/Manager at Diabetes Care Program of Nova Scotia, had the gumption to question years of process in diabetic clinical care, knowing there was a better way to ensure health outcomes for her patients. By implementing a new non-drug technology approach, Nova Scotia has found enormous savings in public funding and seen a dramatic increase in patient satisfaction. The application provides encouraging news for other jurisdictions and disease populations.

Hosted annually by CFHI, the CEO Forum assembles the best evidence and emerging practices on key health policy issues and offers a rare opportunity for healthcare leaders from across Canada to connect with each other and hear from players in Canadian health services.  The CEO Forum grew out of our EXTRA program, which transforms managers into change agents, and where healthcare leaders and their CEOs gather annually to present the results of their improvement projects.

The 2013 CEO Forum partners include the Canadian Nurses Association, Canadian Institute for Health Information, Canadian Medical Association and the Association of Canadian Academic Healthcare Organizations. The event is sponsored by the Canadian Partnership against Cancer, Accreditation Canada, and the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health.  For program information visit: cfhi-fcass.ca

The Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (cfhi-fcass.ca) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to healthcare improvement and transformation for Canadians and is funded through an agreement with the Government of Canada. CFHI collaborates with governments, policy-makers, and health system leaders to convert evidence and innovative practices into actionable policies, programs, tools and leadership development.

PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2013/02/06/20130206_C3121_DOC_EN_23328.pdf

SOURCE: Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement

Eileen Melnick McCarthy
Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement
613.728.2238 ext. 233
514-985-6281 (media room - February 6, 2013)
[email protected]