Care Forward: Momentum is Building

One Year of Progress and What Comes Next

At its core, Care Forward builds on something that has always guided our work: connecting people, ideas and action to improve care. As momentum for change continues to grow across the country, the movement was created to help accelerate that progress — bringing greater coordination and collaboration to HEC’s work so that proven approaches can spread further and faster, benefiting more people.

One year later, that momentum continues to grow.

Nearly 500 health and social care teams across Canada are collaborating through Care Forward, sharing knowledge, adapting proven approaches and driving practical improvements in care within their communities.

Spreading and scaling what works

Guided by HEC’s refreshed 2026-2031 strategy, Care Forward is focused on accelerating progress in key areas — transforming quality, safety and value across the health system and expanding access to safe, connected, high-quality care closer to home and community.

Across the country, this work is taking shape through initiatives such as Primary Care Access Improvement (PCAI). Using a widely endorsed quality improvement approach, participating teams are expanding access to people-centred care, reducing wait times and improving the experience of care for both patients and providers.

Now, that work is growing. A second PCAI cohort will soon invite even more teams, building on shared learning and continuing to expand access to care across Canada.

Momentum is also building around approaches that help older adults age safely at home and stay connected to their communities.

Following the success of Nursing Home Without Walls in New Brunswick, HEC is partnering with jurisdictions across the country to expand the model so more older adults can access the services and supports they need to remain connected, independent and well at home.

At the same time, Care Forward is helping strengthen care for older adults with more complex needs living in long-term care settings. In Manitoba, a new collaborative will build on HEC’s long-standing work on the appropriate use of antipsychotics to help long-term care homes strengthen the quality and safety of care for residents.

Earlier work through the Sparking Change in the Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics awards program has already shown the impact these approaches can have in long-term care settings.

At Chartwell Crescent Gardens in British Columbia, the team reduced inappropriate antipsychotic use by 33 percent through individualized care plans, staff training and strong family engagement.

At Lewisporte Health Centre in Newfoundland and Labrador, two residents regained the ability to speak, eat and engage in daily life after antipsychotics were discontinued.

Strengthening the foundations of healthcare excellence

Alongside efforts to expand access to safe, connected, high-quality care closer to home, Care Forward is also helping strengthen the foundations of healthcare excellence. This includes supporting cultural safety, strengthening collective leadership and addressing racism in care.

In June, HEC will invite applicants to a new two-year learning collaborative to support this work, helping organizations strengthen cultural safety, build trust and improve care experiences and outcomes for First Nations, Inuit and Métis patients and communities.

Together, these efforts are helping improve access to care while strengthening quality, safety and value across the health system.

Looking ahead

There is more to do — and more people to reach. But the past year has shown what is possible when people come together around shared priorities and practical action.

As Care Forward enters its next phase, new and continuing collaboratives will help more teams learn together, adapt proven approaches and strengthen care in their communities.

Together, this work is helping connect people, scale what works and build stronger foundations for healthcare excellence across Canada.