Citizen Engagement

Submitted by Geoff Wilson
On Septmeber 25, 2008, Capital Health held its first Citizens’ Conversation in conjunction with its Annual General Meeting. Over 100 people attended. The main conversation topic was: How do we balance the health needs of our community with Capital Health’s budget?

Here is a summary of the issues that were raised during the conversation. Shortly, we will be posting more video clips from the Citizens’ Conversation as well as a complete written transcript. We will also be posting Capital Health’s resopnse to these comments and suggestions so citizens know how we are acting on their advice.

Summary of Issues for the September 25 Citizens’ Conversation:
Silos and Intersectoral Collaboration and Cooperation
- Municipal government – create infrastructure in communities to support healthy lifestyles (i.e. sidewalks, bike paths, recreation facilities)
- Population health approaches demand we pursue greater collaboration with Community Services, Justice, Health Promotion and Protection, and Education
- School Board – schools are a community health resource (i.e. recreation, education, literacy); build upon successful partnership around Youth Health Centres

Role of Education in Health
- Health Education as part of the curriculum – care, education/awareness
- School-based health centres (such as the Youth Health Centres) – expand to other age levels; expand scope and range of services beyond sexual health
- Teach people how to lead healthier lifestyles, how to manage their own health (i.e. “Doctor-You” concept)
- Restore hospital-based nurse training/education programs

Long Term and Alternative Care
- Create programs and spaces that enable seniors and others to live with dignity
- Help seniors make informed health care decisions (i.e. seniors might make different choices about their own care and treatment if they knew the costs)
- Work to ensure more integrated care in nursing homes (i.e. Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Hearing and Speech Therapists, Dieticians, Addiction Counselors, etc.)

System Access and Navigation
- Improve the supports for families, and create care partnerships with families
- “System” literacy – language, jargon (i.e. call a clavicle a collar bone), and system navigation for patients/families
- Expand telehealth, and use commonplace Web technologies to connect care providers with patients

Build a Culture of Health
- Personal and individual responsibility for one’s own health supported by education system, through better public education, and in collaboration with other sectors and levels of government
- Better support for transitions across the continuum of care (i.e. child to adult, adult to senior, etc.)
- Our deference to power and authority (of health professionals) prevent us from taking control of our own health and are obstacles to system change. Individual health needs must be supported through partnerships between individuals, care providers and the system
- Changing the public’s expectations of health care will require a long term strategy that is aimed at countering the “Fast-food, Fast Health” culture we have created
- Identify and create health “incentives”

Capital Health’s Advocacy Role
- Housing – There is a need for safe, affordable housing for low-income, vulnerable populations. Good housing is tied to good health.
- Community Recreation – Capital Health was asked to advocate on behalf of the community with HRM for a larger facility to replace the Northcliff Rec Centre.
- Mental Health – Programs are under funded. Capital Health asked to increase the funding for this program.
- Addiction treatment – Capital Health must advocate for addicted inmates to be able to receive their Methodone treatments in the Burnside Correctional Facility. Denying this treatment is inhumane and potentially harmful.

Future Citizens’ Conversations
- Where Capital Health holds future Citizens’ Conversations could create a barrier for people to participate. Capital Health must go community locations all across the district to hold these kinds of conversations rather than expecting people to travel downtown and outside their own communities.