{"title":"Essential Readings and Continuous Learning in Healthcare Policy.","authors":"Neil Seeman","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2025.27589","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2025.27589","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Using structured e-mail interviews with healthcare system leaders, this essay identifies essential readings that can guide today's policy makers toward meaningful healthcare reform. Combining qualitative analysis of expert recommendations with citation impact assessment, the study highlights key themes, including integration, community engagement, technological innovation and equity. Findings suggest that reform requires balancing structural changes with grassroots solutions and emphasizes adaptability in policy making. The research advocates a health systems reading feedback loop that continuously updates knowledge by integrating new insights and revisiting historical perspectives. This iterative approach underscores the need for dynamic, reflective strategies in addressing contemporary healthcare challenges for sustainable progress.</p>","PeriodicalId":520276,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"27 4","pages":"14-16"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144129895","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}
Malvina Klag, Annie-Carole Martel, Matthew Weiss, Martine Bouchard
{"title":"Developing Personas to Enable Tailored Public Health Communications: The Case of Organ Donation in Québec.","authors":"Malvina Klag, Annie-Carole Martel, Matthew Weiss, Martine Bouchard","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2025.27579","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2025.27579","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the context of long organ wait lists and few registered organ donors, Transplant Québec aimed to understand public views on deceased organ donation, as a basis for public-facing communications. It formulated four personas representing subgroups with varying views and behaviours related to organ donation. They were iteratively built via triangulation of findings from literature reviews, populational data, public polls, an expert panel and focus groups. Personas offer a more human approach to characterizing groups than statistics, which is particularly helpful for sensitive issues such as organ donation. This work may assist other organizations in tailoring public health communications.</p>","PeriodicalId":520276,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"27 4","pages":"64-71"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144129949","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":"Issues in Mental Health Law for Health Leaders.","authors":"Gail Czukar","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2025.27587","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12927/hcq.2025.27587","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Healthcare leaders addressing homelessness and mental illness in Canada may find mental health laws challenging. This paper explores the limitations of the existing system, including insufficient hospital services, community resources and long-term housing solutions. It critiques proposals for forced treatment and confinement, arguing that they are costly, legally contentious and ineffective in providing sustainable care. Instead, it advocates for increased investment in community-based mental health services, stable housing and income support and coordinated care between hospitals and community programs. By shifting focus from detention to prevention and support, health leaders can create a more humane and effective system for individuals with mental illness and addiction.</p>","PeriodicalId":520276,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"27 4","pages":"18-23"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144130004","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":"Mental Health in the Court System: An Interview with Judge Renée Cochard.","authors":"Ruby Brown, Anne Wojtak","doi":"10.12927/hcq.2025.27585","DOIUrl":"10.12927/hcq.2025.27585","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>People living with mental illness and/or substance use disorders are disproportionally represented in Canadian courts and prisons. According to recent data, 25% of people in Canada's prisons have a mental health disorder (Mental Health Commission of Canada 2020). It is also estimated that up to 80% of individuals incarcerated in federal penitentiaries have a drug or alcohol dependence disorder (Department of Justice Canada 2021). Recognizing that Canada's court system is not designed to support these populations, many provinces have introduced mental health courts that are intended to divert people with mental health and substance use disorders out of the traditional system and into supports and programs focused on treatment and rehabilitation.</p>","PeriodicalId":520276,"journal":{"name":"Healthcare quarterly (Toronto, Ont.)","volume":"27 4","pages":"29-32"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144130005","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}
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}
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}
{"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}
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}
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}