By Jennifer Zelmer, President and CEO, Healthcare Excellence Canada
As in many places, thousands of people in Renfrew County, Ontario were going without regular access to primary care. But that's changing. The Petawawa Centennial Family Health Centre and partners introduced Integrated Virtual Care. Their team-based approach connects people to primary care providers virtually and coordinates in-person support when needed. Since launching, they have helped more than 6,500 previously unattached patients get timely, appropriate care without leaving their community.
Examples like this show what’s possible. Last year, Healthcare Excellence Canada (HEC) had the privilege to work with hundreds of teams who are rethinking how care is delivered. But we all need to go further so that safe, high-quality healthcare is the norm everywhere, for everyone.
That’s why we’re launching Care Forward, a pan-Canadian movement to connect changemakers, scale what works, and support people delivering care. We’re aiming to improve outcomes for at least one million people.
The case for change
Across Canada, too many people are waiting in crowded emergency departments for care they could receive elsewhere. Many older adults are moving into long-term care sooner than they want to because they don’t have the right support in their communities. And the health workers we all rely on are stretched thinner than ever. These aren’t new problems, but they are urgent ones.
While the challenges are complex, there are paths forward that can make a real difference. Clinics are using creative approaches to expand access to care. Community programs are helping older adults stay mobile, connected and independent. Healthcare teams are building more flexible, supportive workplaces that help them stay well while doing demanding jobs.
Now is the time to bring these benefits to more people and make sure they last.
Better healthcare, by design
Care Forward is about improving care today and the foundations for excellence tomorrow. Inspired by global approaches and experiences across Canada, we’re combining practical, proven models that help address urgent priorities while strengthening the systems behind them. The goal: better care now, and a stronger tomorrow.
We’ve already seen this approach work. For instance, paramedics in Nova Scotia, Alberta, and PEI began piloting new in-home palliative approaches to care. They offer people living with cancer and other life-limiting conditions support when they need it and where they want it. Spreading that model to seven provinces involved more than just training in technical skills. It also meant working closely with patient and family advisors to meet their needs, using thorough evaluation to understand impact and guide on-going improvement, and more.
Join the movement
Care Forward starts with a commitment to partnership because we’ve seen the progress that happens when people and organizations come together for a shared purpose.
No matter where you’re starting from, there’s a place for you. Whether you’re ready to lead a new initiative or looking to learn from others, Care Forward offers the support and community to help you make a difference. Supported by HEC and more than 20 organizations across the country, changemakers can access funding, coaching, inspiring promising practices, learning opportunities and a growing network of peers who share similar goals.
We’re advancing four priority areas identified by people across the country as opportunities for progress that align with HEC’s strategy:
- Expanding access to care and easing pressure on emergency rooms
- Helping more people age safely where they call home
- Advancing person-centred care in long-term care
- Supporting the health workforce
Care Forward is also about improving excellence in care by helping teams build foundational skills in equity, cultural safety, patient engagement and safety, all essential to creating lasting change. For example, you’ll have a chance to focus on key areas like strengthening quality improvement skills; partnering meaningfully with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities; and many ways to make care safer.
Solutions are available. Let’s scale them—together.
