Roy Romanow - Need to shift emphasis in health and health care.mp4
Summary
TLDRThe speaker discusses the concept of a 'third revolution' in healthcare, emphasizing a shift from focusing solely on acute care to addressing broader factors that affect health, such as quality of life and community influences. He reflects on the legacy of Tommy Douglas in Canada and the need for a national community health strategy. The speaker highlights the importance of upstream determinants of health and expresses hope for future policies under the current government. His passion is rooted in personal experiences and a belief in community-based healthcare solutions as critical for the future.
Takeaways
- 💡 The speaker discusses the concept of a 'third revolution' in healthcare, which involves a shift in focus from acute care to factors that affect quality of life.
- 🌍 This revolution emphasizes the importance of social determinants of health, such as community, work environment, and lifestyle, as major contributors to health outcomes.
- ⚕️ Acute care, while crucial, has overshadowed other aspects of healthcare, and there’s a need to rebalance the system.
- 🌱 The 'third revolution' is seen as an extension of Tommy Douglas's vision for healthcare in Canada, moving beyond just treating illnesses to preventing them by addressing broader health determinants.
- 🏥 The public often believes that modern medicine can fix all health problems, which creates a barrier to understanding the importance of preventive care.
- 👨⚕️ The speaker stresses that healthcare funds should come with conditions aimed at improving community health and addressing upstream health determinants.
- 🔄 There is a need for a national community healthcare strategy, focusing on Community Health Centers (CHCs) to promote preventive care and health equity.
- 📈 The speaker is cautiously hopeful that the Harper government will take steps to support this approach, depending on its values and policy decisions.
- 👪 The speaker’s passion for the issue is influenced by personal experiences, growing up with immigrant parents who faced challenges accessing healthcare before Medicare.
- 💪 The speaker believes that the time is right for a stronger focus on community health and that determined leadership is needed to bring these ideas to the forefront of policy discussions.
Q & A
What is meant by the 'third revolution' in healthcare?
-The 'third revolution' refers to a shift in focus towards quality of life and preventive care, rather than solely concentrating on acute care. It emphasizes how lifestyle, community, and environmental factors contribute to health and well-being.
Why does the speaker believe the third revolution is important?
-The speaker believes the third revolution is important because it highlights the need to focus on the quality of life and the social determinants of health, which are often overlooked but are crucial in preventing illness and promoting overall well-being.
What are the barriers to achieving this third revolution in healthcare?
-One key barrier is society's perception that medical professionals can always 'fix' health issues, leading people to overlook the importance of lifestyle and environmental factors. Another barrier is the emphasis on technological advancements and acute care, which dominate public discourse and funding.
How does the speaker view society's current attitude towards healthcare?
-The speaker views society's current attitude as overly reliant on medical professionals to repair health issues after they arise, without considering the preventative measures and lifestyle changes that can avoid illness in the first place.
What is the speaker's stance on the role of technology in healthcare?
-The speaker acknowledges the importance of technology in healthcare but believes it receives disproportionate attention compared to preventive care and social determinants of health. They argue that too much focus is placed on treating diseases rather than preventing them.
Why is a national community healthcare strategy important, according to the speaker?
-A national community healthcare strategy is important because it would shift the focus toward upstream determinants of health, such as community support and preventive measures. This approach could lead to more effective and sustainable healthcare systems.
What are the speaker’s hopes regarding the Harper government and healthcare funding?
-The speaker is hopeful that the Harper government will replenish funding for acute care, but they also stress the need for conditions that require the provinces to focus on upstream determinants of health and community health centers.
How does the speaker’s personal background influence their views on healthcare?
-The speaker’s background as the child of Ukrainian immigrants who lived without Medicare has made them keenly aware of the challenges people face in accessing healthcare. This personal experience, along with inspiration from Tommy Douglas, has shaped their views on the importance of universal healthcare and preventive care.
What role did Tommy Douglas play in shaping the speaker’s views on healthcare?
-Tommy Douglas, known for his role in establishing Medicare in Saskatchewan, deeply influenced the speaker by advocating not only for acute care but also for preventive measures like community health centers, which the speaker now views as crucial for healthcare reform.
What does the speaker suggest should be done with healthcare funding going forward?
-The speaker suggests that any renewed healthcare funding should come with conditions that prioritize community health strategies and preventive care. They believe that funding should be directed toward initiatives that address upstream determinants of health, rather than just acute care.
Outlines
💡 The Third Revolution in Healthcare
The speaker discusses the 'third revolution' in healthcare, which involves a shift in focus from acute care to preventative measures that consider lifestyle factors. This revolution aims to address the quality of life, including how we live, work, and relate to others, as key contributors to health. The speaker highlights that for too long, the healthcare system has been dominated by acute care and communicable diseases. They argue that the third revolution is equally important in addressing healthcare costs and aligning with Tommy Douglas' vision of comprehensive healthcare in Canada.
🏥 Challenges in Prioritizing Preventative Healthcare
The speaker elaborates on the slow progress toward preventative healthcare, particularly in Canada, attributing it to society's emphasis on advanced medical technology and surgeries. They believe that many people hold a flawed perception that healthcare can 'fix' any issue, much like a mechanic repairing a car, without considering the impact of personal health habits and environments. This mindset poses a barrier to promoting upstream healthcare approaches that address community health determinants, a concept that the speaker hopes the government will incorporate in its healthcare funding and policy decisions.
💼 Hope for a National Community Healthcare Strategy
The speaker expresses cautious optimism regarding the possibility of a national community healthcare strategy under the Harper government. They commend the government's commitment to replenishing funding for acute care but stress the importance of attaching conditions to ensure some of the funding is allocated toward community health centers and upstream healthcare determinants. The speaker believes that illness prevention and community health should be treated as two sides of the same coin and advocates for a more strategic use of resources in the healthcare system.
👪 Personal Motivation for Healthcare Advocacy
The speaker shares personal experiences that shape their passion for healthcare reform. As the child of Ukrainian immigrants, they witnessed firsthand the challenges of living without Medicare. Inspired by Tommy Douglas' vision, they supported the movement for comprehensive healthcare in Canada. The speaker reflects on their journey from a youthful ideological stance to a deeper understanding of the necessity for community-based healthcare solutions. They believe this model is more needed today than ever and call for greater focus, leadership, and political attention to advance these goals.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Third Revolution
💡Acute Care
💡Upstream Health Determinants
💡Community Health Centres (CHCs)
💡Tommy Douglas
💡National Community Health Strategy
💡Health Care Costs
💡Public Perception of Healthcare
💡Determinants of Health
💡Harper Government
Highlights
The speaker introduces the concept of a 'third revolution' in healthcare, focusing on quality of life and social determinants of health rather than just acute care.
The next revolution in healthcare is described as a shift in attitude toward understanding how communities, working environments, and personal habits impact health.
The speaker argues that society often places too much emphasis on advanced technologies and surgeries, overshadowing the importance of upstream determinants of health.
Tommy Douglas's vision for Canadian healthcare is discussed, with the speaker emphasizing the need to move beyond acute care to include community health initiatives.
There is a societal belief that doctors can fix any health issue, which the speaker believes has hindered broader thinking about preventive and community-based healthcare.
The speaker highlights the importance of a national community healthcare strategy and expresses cautious optimism about its potential under the Harper government.
The speaker emphasizes the need for conditions to be attached to healthcare funding, ensuring that provinces focus on determinants of health and community care.
Community health centers (CHCs) are seen as key vehicles for addressing the broader determinants of health and improving population well-being.
The speaker reflects on personal experiences growing up in a working-class immigrant family, which shaped his passion for healthcare reform and community-based solutions.
The speaker identifies Tommy Douglas as a significant influence on his views, particularly in advocating for both acute care and community health services.
The speaker notes that the healthcare system is overly focused on acute care, and urges for a more balanced approach that includes community health initiatives.
There is a need for greater leadership and focus to elevate community health initiatives to the level of national policy, according to the speaker.
The speaker calls for an integrated approach to healthcare that includes both acute care and preventive measures driven by community health determinants.
The speaker acknowledges the efforts of individuals working in communities but stresses the need for policymakers to recognize and support these initiatives.
The speaker concludes by reaffirming the importance of community health initiatives and the need for national leadership to prioritize these efforts alongside acute care.
Transcripts
something wrong you delivered quite a
bit of a burn were speaking to the
support of CHC one of the things I
wanted to talk to you about was one of
the last things you mentioned was this
notion of a third revolution and I'm
really interested in in that so could
you sort of frame that up a bit more how
you view what's coming what needs to
happen in terms of CFCs in terms of the
next revolution in healthcare well I
think the next revolution what I'm
trying to say about that is a switch and
attitude which I think we've had for a
number of years and it's an important
concern that our efforts should be spent
with respect to our acute care are when
we fall ill we have not traditionally
thought about all the things which can
contribute to our illness quality of
life and this is I think the important
new dimension of the debate it is a
third revolution because we have to pick
up on this sense that how we live and
the communities within what we relate to
our working friends our time constraints
all of these factors have a big impact
on our lives quality of lives and
and I think this is a third revolution I
think it's important as controlling
communicable diseases and it balances
off that you can care which is for it's
too long dominated as important as it is
that health care costs in debates so
it's the third revolution is also the
second stage or hopefully the second
stage of what Tommy Douglas hoped for in
terms of medical care medical aid in
Canada why is this taking so long
well I can only answer from my own
personal practical experiences preview
in the province of Saskatchewan Tommy
Douglas is prophecy and that is I think
that the the culture places so much
emphasis on the fancy technologies when
I say fancy don't mean to diminish it
the new discoveries and respective
medications that tremendously heroic
efforts of surgery this is where we get
the publicity all the time and in
society there is kind of a belief I'm
overstating it generally I'm not saying
for everybody that we can pretty well do
with him on end and we walk to ourselves
and the committees exist only they are
somebody will be able to repair us much
like a mechanic with repair broken down
the car that's is it is the psychology
and that's when the barrier to
communicating it's perception that
thinks this in the public namely that
you can do anything you want to yourself
you can live in any environment you want
if you got access to the doctor it's a
fix in place I'm not saying the doctors
believe that I think society believes
that right so one of the other things
called for in your talk was a really
pressing need for a national community
health care strategy given that the
Harper government is now
majority how optimistic are you that
that's actually going to take place in
the next few years well I'm I'm hopeful
I'll put it that way I think a lot
depends on the values system which guide
the the Prime Minister the fact that he
is going to replenish the funding on the
acute care side of health care for the
6% a yearly going all the way back to
the 2004 Accord is probably a good thing
probably the caveat that I would attach
is if the money is going to be extended
again renewed and extended this time
round
unlike in 2004 Ottawa should be trying
to attach conditions to that money being
transferred to the provinces one of
which should be the need to organize in
individual jurisdictions working with
individual communities the concept of
determinants determinants upstream
healthcare community health centres
because as I say they're the opposite
ends of the same coin illness and the
community health determinants the CDC
worked together that's the reality of it
now it does mr. Harper have that
philosophy or approach I did not know
but all I can say is we'll see what his
actions and his words about - I would
say that him that if you're going to be
pumping this money in a healthcare
system make sure there a lot of it is
directed to where the benefits have
proven to be much more valuable than
that is to the upstream determinants of
health concept CH sees as a vehicle I
wanna end with one final question is a
question absolutely kind of governor
last year you're clearly passionate
about this issue personally why
well I'm affected by two or three
factors first of all I'm the son of
Ukrainian immigrant parents my mother
and father were born in the old country
in Ukraine I was born here and I don't
overstate this but it was a wee reporter
father worked all of his life on the
railways a section man couraged mediate
union university and education but in
those days they didn't have Medicare and
understood exactly the challenges that
face them and thousands like them so in
Douglas obviously inspired me from
Saskatchewan wanted to get the first
phase the barrier between acute care
between those who needed and them to get
it attenuated if not reduced
I was great idea but that time I was
convinced for the Sophocles young
ideologically my own mind reason
prevailed that the next message which
Douglas was also communicating at the
same time was just as important namely
complementing it was CeCe's community
health links and the light so I was a
product of the circumstances in
Saskatchewan there was no room for
middle ground
you couldn't sort of say yeah this is
good a little bit of this bad I'll
consider you had to choose in that
debate and I chose based on my values my
experiences based on the influence of
this great individual that was that
humanity and mankind in this province
and generally we can adopt this model
would be improved by doing so those were
the fact the factors which convinced me
to to get into that policy point of view
and I feel more strongly about it today
than I did when I made the decision to
join I think it's needed more today than
I did that perhaps I didn't understand
it fully then but it sure is needed now
and there is an emerging movement it
just needs a little more focus and more
profile and more determined leadership
by people who I know are working very
hard in the community and doing good
things community but to take it one
notch up and that is to bring it to the
attention of the policymakers the
premiers the prime minister health care
people in the like okay thank you for
that
give me
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