Juliana Shemanchuk, Mary V Modayil, Sharon Tahir, Kassandra Squires
{"title":"How Primary Healthcare Can Support Municipalities in Service Planning.","authors":"Juliana Shemanchuk, Mary V Modayil, Sharon Tahir, Kassandra Squires","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2025.27580","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2025.27580","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alberta Health Services Primary Health Care collaborated with the City of Beaumont in their efforts to improve access to healthcare services in their community during the past year. The city was initially concerned about a shortage of primary care physicians. However, through community engagement and a population health needs assessment, it was discovered that their concerns were rooted in broader health and social needs beyond medical needs. The municipality led the initiative, fostered local decision making and developed and endorsed a Health Services Action Plan. This paper briefly outlines the steps taken, milestones achieved, lessons learned and next steps to implement the action plan, including dedicating resources to address priorities.</p>","PeriodicalId":520276,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"27 4","pages":"59-63"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144129990","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":"Introduction - Mental Health and the Justice System.","authors":"Ruby Brown, Anne Wojtak","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2025.27588","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2025.27588","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>\"When it comes to mental health all countries can be thought of as developing countries\" (Patel et al. 2018). This perspective is even more pronounced in the critical junction of serious mental health disorders and the criminal justice system. As our understanding and tolerance of the human condition evolves, it sheds light on the critical gaps in the health system for this at-most-risk population.</p>","PeriodicalId":520276,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"27 4","pages":"17"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144130001","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}
Pamela Lucas, Natalie Weiser, Joel Aguirre, Daniela Bellicoso
{"title":"Examining the Meaning and Value of Prayer Shawls Received in Hospital.","authors":"Pamela Lucas, Natalie Weiser, Joel Aguirre, Daniela Bellicoso","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2025.27577","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2025.27577","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Members of a Catholic hospital's spiritual care team retrospectively examined the lived experience of being gifted a prayer shawl (PS) in hospital, to ensure that patients and their support networks were finding value in receiving these transitional objects. Recipients expressed gratitude and drew meaning and value from their lived experience of using a PS in hospital. Overall, the shawls were well received and served as a source of emotional support and hope.</p>","PeriodicalId":520276,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"27 4","pages":"78-84"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144129940","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}
Rachel Latus, Audrey Kim, Winnie Chan, Babita Gupta
{"title":"Canada's Shared Health Priorities: Measuring Progress and Bridging Data Gaps With Common Indicators.","authors":"Rachel Latus, Audrey Kim, Winnie Chan, Babita Gupta","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2025.27590","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2025.27590","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In 2023, Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments agreed to work together to improve healthcare across four priority areas and to develop common indicators to measure progress and report back to Canadians. In October 2024, the Canadian Institute for Health Information released Taking the Pulse: Measuring Shared Priorities for Canadian Health Care, 2024, which provides baseline results for 12 of these indicators. Some of the key findings include the following: Eighty-three percent of Canadians report having access to a regular healthcare provider. Half of Canadians referred to publicly funded community mental health counselling waited 25 days or less for their first scheduled session. Only two in five Canadians have accessed their personal health information electronically.</p>","PeriodicalId":520276,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"27 4","pages":"11-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144129938","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":"Rehabilitating the Forensic Psychiatric System: What's Really Broken?","authors":"Anita Szigeti","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2025.27586","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2025.27586","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The forensic psychiatric system is often criticized for being either too lenient or overly punitive, revealing deep-seated misconceptions about its operations and outcomes. This paper explores the systemic challenges faced by individuals with serious mental health conditions who intersect with the criminal justice system, focusing on the pervasive stigma, systemic biases and resource shortages that define their experiences. While the public frequently perceives forensic detention as lenient or preferential, the reality is starkly different, with individuals facing prolonged detentions and significant barriers to reintegration. Moreover, systemic issues such as racial discrimination, inadequate access to culturally appropriate care and a lack of supported housing exacerbate these challenges. Contrary to popular belief, the flaws in the system stem not from inadequacies in the law but from chronic under-resourcing of both forensic and civil mental health services. The paper concludes by advocating for improved inter-system collaboration, increased resource allocation and a shift in societal perceptions to address these entrenched issues effectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":520276,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"27 4","pages":"24-28"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144130007","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}
Priya May, Kerri Bennett, Ivan Yuen, Timothy Jackson
{"title":"Analyses of the Effectiveness of Participation in the Ontario Surgical Quality Improvement Network.","authors":"Priya May, Kerri Bennett, Ivan Yuen, Timothy Jackson","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2025.27578","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2025.27578","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This retrospective review evaluates the Ontario Surgical Quality Improvement Network's patient outcomes and financial returns. Criteria from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Network are used to examine the program, and risk-adjusted data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program on four indicators spanning 2016 to 2023 were used to calculate outcomes. With reductions in post-operative complications, readmissions and length of hospital stay, the Ontario healthcare system is saving an estimated $3,000,000 per year, representing a return on investment of 38%. Similar quality improvement networks could be adopted in other jurisdictions to elevate surgical care standards.</p>","PeriodicalId":520276,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"27 4","pages":"72-77"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144129935","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":"Beyond Traditional Practices: Innovating Workplace Mental Health in the Community.","authors":"Tazim Virani, Farah Ismail, Jillian Brooke","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2024.27444","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2024.27444","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Workplace mental health is a critical concern. Forty per cent of healthcare workers experience burnout, half intend to leave the profession and only 60% express satisfaction with the quality of care they provide. These statistics highlight the urgency for innovative and holistic approaches to support well-being within healthcare organizations. This article focuses on an organization that prioritizes the mental health of its 8,000 distributed staff. Guided by the values of love, life care and work with purpose, the organization implemented strategies to strengthen its culture, develop leadership and create supportive environments. Emphasis was placed on interventions to mitigate stress and fatigue. Successes and lessons learned are shared, offering a blueprint for other organizations.</p>","PeriodicalId":520276,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"27 3","pages":"28-33"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142848757","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":"Introduction to Mental Health in Healthcare Workplaces.","authors":"Ruby Brown, Anne Wojtak","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2024.27491","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2024.27491","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the quest by health leaders to create the conditions necessary for the delivery of safe, high-quality care, this issue of <i>Healthcare Quarterly</i> (<i>HQ</i>) is pleased to offer some promising approaches and resources for establishing healthy workplaces. We are all too aware that the workforce - as the backbone of the health system - is facing severe pressures. The demand for healthcare workers is outpacing supply, which necessitates innovative solutions to retain those already in the system.</p>","PeriodicalId":520276,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"27 3","pages":"20-21"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142848766","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 Siren Call for Business Model Innovation in Healthcare.","authors":"Neil Seeman","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2024.27492","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2024.27492","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This essay explores the necessity and return on investment for business model innovation in Canada's healthcare system, questioning the traditional approach of rapid product development. It highlights the pressing need for innovative solutions to address the challenges posed by an aging population, with one-third of Canadians over 65 years of age managing multiple chronic conditions (Statistics Canada 2024). The discussion aims to redefine healthcare innovation strategies to enhance healthcare delivery and sustainability.</p>","PeriodicalId":520276,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"27 3","pages":"15-19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142848776","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}
Laura Desveaux, Braeden Terpou, Balpreet Panesar, Jayshree Joshi, Marissa Bird
{"title":"Co-Creating a Vision for the Future of Healthcare Leadership: An Organizational Case Study.","authors":"Laura Desveaux, Braeden Terpou, Balpreet Panesar, Jayshree Joshi, Marissa Bird","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2024.27488","DOIUrl":"10.12927/hcq.2024.27488","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This qualitative case study explores the perspectives of approximately 270 leaders at all levels within Canada's largest community hospital to identify the qualities of effective leaders and their aspirations for the future of healthcare leadership. Responses to a structured visioning exercise with three open-ended prompts were anonymously collected, sorted using ChatGPT and thematically analyzed. Connection, integrity and impact were identified as central to effective leadership. These results align with and expand on existing leadership competency frameworks and inform the culture that is essential to building the healthcare leader workforce of tomorrow.</p>","PeriodicalId":520276,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"27 3","pages":"41-48"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142848758","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}