John Ecker, Oluwagbenga Dada, Katherine Francombe Pridham, Stephen W Hwang
{"title":"Beyond Housing: Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Individuals Residing in Toronto's Temporary Shelter Hotels.","authors":"John Ecker, Oluwagbenga Dada, Katherine Francombe Pridham, Stephen W Hwang","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2023.27056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2023.27056","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Toronto opened temporary shelter hotels with on-site supports for people previously living on the street, in encampments or in emergency shelters. The Beyond Housing program was created to enhance service offerings in the shelter hotel system and to support people not engaging with services. Using a Housing First approach, Beyond Housing offers three main interventions: (1) case management, (2) care coordination and (3) on-site and community-based mental health and social supports. This commentary explores the strengths and challenges of implementing Beyond Housing within temporary shelter hotels, and then discusses the lessons learned.</p>","PeriodicalId":39763,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"26 1","pages":"18-23"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9429606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nicole Buchanan, Naheed Dosani, Andrew Bond, Donna Spaner, Alissa Tedesco, Nadine Persaud, Trevor Morey
{"title":"Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless (PEACH): A Model of Outreach Palliative Care for Structurally Vulnerable Populations.","authors":"Nicole Buchanan, Naheed Dosani, Andrew Bond, Donna Spaner, Alissa Tedesco, Nadine Persaud, Trevor Morey","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2023.27055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2023.27055","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless (PEACH) program comprises a community palliative care team serving some of the most complex clients in the healthcare system. Formal partnerships bring together physician, nursing, psychosocial and homecare, health and housing navigation supports. PEACH has served over 1,000 clients, leading field-defining research, medical education and public advocacy. The PEACH program demonstrates that innovation through deep interorganizational and intersectoral integration can drive value-based impact for the most complex clients, providing instructive lessons for public health system reform well beyond the margins faced by people who are unhoused. This paper describes how PEACH's unique model, critical community partnerships and research have been necessary for it to become a leader in community-based palliative care for structurally vulnerable people.</p>","PeriodicalId":39763,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"26 1","pages":"24-30"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9429607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Allison Sabad, Sara Grimwood, Andrea Foebel, Mélanie Josée Davidson
{"title":"Filling Data Gaps in Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Services.","authors":"Allison Sabad, Sara Grimwood, Andrea Foebel, Mélanie Josée Davidson","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2023.27058","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2023.27058","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Improving access to mental health and substance use (MHSU) services continues to be an area of growing concern in Canada, amplified by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also identified as a priority for federal, provincial and territorial governments in the Shared Health Priorities (SHP) work (CIHI n.d.a.). As part of the SHP work, the Canadian Institute for Health Information recently released 2022 results for two newly developed indicators that help to fill data and information gaps in understanding access to MHSU services in Canada. The first, \"Early Intervention for Mental Health and Substance Use among Children and Youth,\" showed that three in five children and youth (aged 12-24 years) with self-reported early needs accessed at least one community MHSU service in Canada. The second, \"Navigation of Mental Health and Substance Use Services,\" revealed that two out of five Canadians (15 years and older) who accessed at least one MHSU service said that they always or usually had support navigating their services.</p>","PeriodicalId":39763,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"26 1","pages":"10-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9429604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"From the Editors.","authors":"Anne Wojtak, Neil Stuart","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2023.27026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2023.27026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As we launch into 2023, the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of Canadian healthcare remains deeply concerning. Over the fall and winter months, our systems have experienced crippling levels of hospitalizations due to waves of infectious diseases, including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus infection and COVID-19. We have been particularly distressed by the impact to paediatric care, the insufficient capacity in mental health services and the continued strain on our healthcare workforce as well as on patients and families.</p>","PeriodicalId":39763,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"25 4","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10782891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Overuse of Tests and Treatments: Has Canada Made Progress?","authors":"Alicia Costante, Xi-Kuan Chen, Alexey Dudevich, Antony Dennis Christy, Lyricy Francis, Cheryl Chui","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2023.27024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2023.27024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Overuse of healthcare services is a complex issue. Also known as low-value care, these are tests, treatments and procedures that are commonly ordered despite clear evidence that they do not help with patient care and may even cause harm. National clinician societies have developed over 450 Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC) recommendations to spur conversation about what is appropriate and necessary treatment. The latest report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information and CWC measured the trends and variation in the use over time of tests and treatments related to 12 CWC recommendations (CIHI 2022). Reductions in overuse were observed in eight of the 12 tests and treatments examined; findings for two of these measures - chronic benzodiazepine use and red blood cell transfusions - are highlighted. Despite some progress on reducing overuse, there remains considerable room for improvement in the appropriate and judicious use of tests and treatments in Canada.</p>","PeriodicalId":39763,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"25 4","pages":"10-12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10782896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sara Bhatti, Josephine Pham, Amna Iqbal, Liben Gebremikael
{"title":"TAIBU Community Health Centre's Proportionate Response to a Disproportionate Pandemic.","authors":"Sara Bhatti, Josephine Pham, Amna Iqbal, Liben Gebremikael","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2023.27020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2023.27020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Data from the City of Toronto indicate that the majority of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations as of December 2021 were among individuals who identified with a racialized group. In this paper, we summarize how TAIBU Community Health Centre, an organization mandated to serve the Black and Francophone communities in the Greater Toronto Area, prioritized and embedded race-based data collection in order to highlight the specific experiences of Black and racialized communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lessons learned from this work can be used to help support race-based data collection.</p>","PeriodicalId":39763,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"25 4","pages":"30-34"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10775097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kayla Esser, Paul Davis, Bryn Badour, Kate Langrish, Judy Van Clieaf, Andrew Baker, Julia Orkin
{"title":"One System, Multiple Hospitals: A Unified Paediatric Healthcare System Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.","authors":"Kayla Esser, Paul Davis, Bryn Badour, Kate Langrish, Judy Van Clieaf, Andrew Baker, Julia Orkin","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2023.27017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2023.27017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To address severe adult in-patient capacity pressures during the COVID-19 pandemic, 15 community hospitals were mandated to close their in-patient paediatric units (167 beds) and transfer paediatric in-patients to a single paediatric tertiary hospital. The tertiary hospital increased bed capacity through a surge plan activation, while community hospitals redeployed resources to fill the gaps in adult care. Also, 530 patients were transferred solely to increase adult bed capacity during the closure. Several factors enabled the system to function collaboratively. Closures increased the potential adult in-patient capacity by 6,740 bed days and demonstrated an unprecedented system-wide approach to the provision of integrated paediatric care across the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":39763,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"25 4","pages":"49-55"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10775099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Morgan Price, Amanda Frazer, Aleah Ross, Sarah Fletcher, Elka Humphrys
{"title":"Primary and Community Care Mapping: Helping Communities Collaboratively Plan Health Services in a Patient-Centred Manner.","authors":"Morgan Price, Amanda Frazer, Aleah Ross, Sarah Fletcher, Elka Humphrys","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2023.27018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2023.27018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Primary care, a core feature of sustainable, high-quality healthcare systems, is undergoing significant system changes across Canada. Complex system change often fails without active implementation support. Primary and Community Care (PACC) Mapping is a rapid co-design method that helps community stakeholders engage in planning at various stages of their change. PACC Mapping has been used in multiple provinces for a range of areas, from maternity care to vaccine planning. This paper outlines the PACC Mapping approach, early experiences and scaling through training facilitators.</p>","PeriodicalId":39763,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"25 4","pages":"41-48"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10775100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Impact of Sex and Gender on Prescribing Cascades in Older Adults.","authors":"Paula Rochon, Misty Pratt, Razan Rawdat","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2023.27025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2023.27025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Prescribing cascades occur when an adverse drug event is misinterpreted as a new medical condition, leading clinicians to prescribe an additional medication. Studies using ICES data have detected a number of common prescribing cascades, particularly among older adult populations. These findings have contributed to international initiatives aimed at optimizing prescribing practices in this population, with the goal of minimizing the risk of drug-related harms. Examining prescribing cascades through a sex and gender lens will better inform guidelines and recommendations tailored to older men and women.</p>","PeriodicalId":39763,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"25 4","pages":"6-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10782894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Arun Dixit, Jennifer Quaglietta, Kopiha Nathan, Leo Dias, Duke Nguyen
{"title":"Cybersecurity: Guiding Principles and Risk Management Advice for Healthcare Boards, Senior Leaders and Risk Managers.","authors":"Arun Dixit, Jennifer Quaglietta, Kopiha Nathan, Leo Dias, Duke Nguyen","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2023.27019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2023.27019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent years, the average cost of healthcare-related data breaches increased from approximately US$7 million in 2020 to over US$9 million in 2021. Moreover, breaches in healthcare have been consistently more costly than in other sectors for 11 consecutive years. With the frequency and costs of cyberattacks expected to rise, healthcare organizations must carefully plan for and identify strategies to mitigate cyber-related risks. This paper provides practical guidance for boards, senior leaders and risk managers in the development and implementation of organization-specific cybersecurity measures, with a focus on the identification, mitigation and management of risks.</p>","PeriodicalId":39763,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"25 4","pages":"35-40"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10775101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}