Glenda Tarnowski MALH, CHE’s Post

📣 Alberta Health Restructuring Engagement Open for Registration 🗒️ On November 8, 2023, the Premier of Alberta and the Minister of Health announced a massive restructuring of the current healthcare system and emergency medical services (EMS) in Alberta. The restructuring of the health care system is meant to overcome challenges and deliver adequate care to all Albertans. The changes will focus on four priority provincial sectors: primary care, acute care, continuing care, and mental health and addiction, with the goal of ensuring that all Albertans receive the best care within a single, fully integrated, high-functioning system. The Province committed to engaging with healthcare workers and the public, to gather further insights into the successes, challenges, and strengths of the current health care system. In-person engagement sessions are now open for registration. 👉 A list of engagement sessions and along with registration can be found here: https://loom.ly/pJ54x44 #albertahealth #healthcaresystem #BeaverCounty #APlaceToCallHome

New Knowledge Now Series: Communities as Creators of Health kicks off January 18 at 11 am. Presenters: Dr. Richard Lewanczuk, Senior Medical Director, Health System Integration, Alberta Health Services and Isabel Henderson, Executive Director, Special Projects, Alberta Health Services. What we traditionally think of as the health care system is largely an illness care system. Our actual health is much more influenced by social factors such as stable housing, food security, social connections, transportation, access to recreation, and so on – all of which are determined at a local community level. Communities, being aware of their strengths and assets, are in the best position to determine their needs and how the formal healthcare system can effectively support these needs. Engaged, vibrant communities are attractive to health care professionals, creating an environment which supports wholistic care. This presentation will highlight aspects of wellness, the opportunity and benefit of community action, and how this contributes to a comprehensive local health care system. Join hosts from the AHS Health System Integration team to hear more about communities as creators of health. Register here: https://bit.ly/3tPh5Ve #FCSS #FCSSAA #fcssStrongerTogether

Today’s comment about the the structuring of Alberta.s health care system is a bit more blunt, intentionally not couched in ‘positivity’: 1. A number of AHS employees and leaders are saying little for fear of retaliation from our government (BTW - these folks are members of the voting public). 2. Much time has been consumed in “government updates” that essentially give little information or guidance in terms of what the government has planned or next steps in the actually restructuring. BTW - this is taking the time of intelligent people who are still busy working to provide quality care to Albertans (BTW - that need hasn’t stopped). I think there is universal recognition that change in the health care ecosystem is needed. But the processes being applied by this government is exhausting and demoralizing (BTW - because we needed that).

Evidence-based policies and decisions shape health services and the role of health workforce. We informed emergency medical services in the UK to prioritise innovations and changes to improve health outcomes, quality of care, and engage communities through Community First Responders programmes. https://lnkd.in/gDXE-qTu

NTD programmes strengthen health systems by increasing access to hard-to-reach people and training community health workers, who provide a first line of primary healthcare. Both are vital for achieving universal health coverage.    On #WorldNTDDay, let’s #BeatNTDs!

As pandemic emergency funding is largely rescinded or spent, the nation will likely return to the boom-and-bust pattern of funding increases during public health emergencies followed by a return to chronic underfunding.

It was a pleasure to speak at the Global Health Workforce Network 2024 Virtual Conference, in the Session of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) governance and PHC-Focued Health Systems, I explained the role of political processess in attaining UHC, using a framework from our working paper at Global Health Focus Health Policy Research Unit, the paper was motivated by a lack of understanding of how political processes affect the drive for UHC in resource-restricted settings. The framework conceptualized intially by Dr. Salma Eltahir Mohammed, highlights the social movement in favor of UHC and views UHC as a new social movement that embraces three key dimensions (organizations, political opportunities, and interests’ opinion) that can work together to affect the drive for UHC by providing effective policies and legislations. These three variables interact to drive a certain level of political commitment to UHC, which manifests in a variety of policy pathways to UHC. Further I discussed key stratigies including advocacy and collaboration in translating UHC polices into actions (Health System Reforms) and prioritization and investment in primary healthcare. It’s was a great honor to speak at the same section in the conference after Professor Don Eliseo III Lucero-Prisno, our lovely Editor in Chief and GHF Genral Director. Thanks Adriana Viola Miranda, GHF leader and conference organizing committee member, for invitation abd coordination. #GHWN #uhc #healthforall #healthpolicy #healthsystems #healthsystemsstrengthening

What truly makes a public health program effective and sustainable? Beyond infrastructure and funding... 1. It's important to create an environment where people trust the system and value the services provided. 2. Engage communities and healthcare workers to maintain program success even in times of uncertainty. 3.Design health programs that can easily adapt to changes in political and financial landscapes. As we begin the week, it is important to focus on creating public health programs that go beyond the immediate, programs that instill confidence and offer lasting impact. #MaternalHealth #SustainableDevelopment #CommunityTrust #HealthcareInnovation

This article by Mike Kertes is well worth the read. #cdi #cdia

Five years ago today, Governor Inslee signed the Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) bill into law (2SHB 1497). This legislation codified the process for how the governmental public health system in WA was to come together to concur on how to allocate FPHS funding. Little did we know that a year later we would be wading into a pandemic where our public health infrastructure would be put to the test. And in 2021, when FPHS received its first significant investment, it was ready with a process in place to work together and put the resources to work, thanks to 1497. The FPHS investment and all of public health working together to make sure basic public health services were available to everyone everywhere has been transformational. Public health now has predictable, stable funding so that agencies can make long range plans for programs and staffing. Public health now has flexibility so that it can pivot and adapt to emerging threats immediately instead of waiting for an appropriation or grant. Public health now has the capacity to invest in prevention, as well as conduct response. Public health can now build and sustain expertise, so that we have right skills and abilities to move quickly to protect health. And most important, there were hundreds of dedicated people that put FPHS into motion, and so many more that work everyday to deliver these services while improving and elevating our entire system. A foundational public health service is one that is both unique to governmental public health and one that should be provided to everyone. Our governmental public health system is the Washington State Board of Health, sovereign and federally recognized tribes, local public health districts and departments, and the Washington State Department of Health. #publichealthisessential