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Traditional palliative care models often overlook the unique needs and challenges of people experiencing homelessness or vulnerable housing, including needs like income security, food and more personalized, compassionate care. The Improving Equity in Access to Palliative Care collaborative brings communities from coast to coast to design and implement innovative models that improve access to care.

As part of this year’s Canadian Patient Safety Week (CPSW), our annual campaign to inspire improvements in healthcare safety and quality across Canada, HEC’s President and CEO Jennifer Zelmer hosted an exclusive fireside chat for CPSW registrants.

Data from the Canadian Institute of Health Information show that one in 17 hospital stays in Canada in 2022-23 resulted in unintended harm that might have been prevented through evidence-informed practices. That’s about six per one hundred acute-care admissions, up from rates of 5.3 to 5.4 before the pandemic began.

As World Patient Safety Day approaches on September 17, this year’s theme of “Engaging Patients for Patient Safety” highlights the vital role patients, families and essential care partners play in the safety of healthcare. In the spirit of this year’s theme, we as patient partners are sharing our reflections and identifying opportunities to make care as safe and high-quality as possible.

What is the Health Workforce Innovation Challenge? This 12-month open innovation challenge is designed to support healthcare organizations and their teams in experimenting with innovative ideas and new solutions for the retention and support of their current workforce.

At Healthcare Excellence Canada, we work with partners from coast to coast to coast to catalyze knowledge-sharing, best practices and innovation. We support building the capacity of teams of healthcare staff in a wide variety of organizations to do their best possible work. Our goal – as we work with and for folks across the country – is to help shape a future where everyone in Canada has access to safe, high-quality care.

June is National Indigenous History Month. During this month, we encourage everyone to learn about and acknowledge not only the history, but the diversity, creativity and resilience of contemporary Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) Peoples across Canada. When thinking about First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, there is often a tendency to believe we are one homogenous group. This is far from the truth.

People experiencing homelessness or vulnerable housing are inadequately served by traditional models of care, including palliative care. This population also has significantly worse health outcomes than their housed peers – up to five times more heart disease, four times more cancer, and a reduced life expectancy of approximately 30 years. First Nations, Inuit and Métis people are also eight times more likely to experience homelessness.

As 2022 comes to a close, we want to express our gratitude to partners like you who continue to respond to the evolving phases of the pandemic and strains facing health systems across the country.