Reinvention (Health Care Crisis) #cindertoflame

Canadian news, reports and initiatives are focused on the health care crisis. In this article, I salute all my newsletter readers and colleagues across the health care system. Now is the time for reinvention and this requires moving beyond continuous quality (process) improvement.

My past experience includes over 25 years in health care and the same issues have compounded over time. An August 10th, 2022 Canadian Medical Association (CMA) report outlines broad collaboration to identify solutions to the health care crisis. It is bookended with: “What’s missing is leadership and collaboration – between all levels of government...”

Another CMA report (October 18th, 2022) presents these facts: “Canada spends more than $300 billion annually on health care”; Canada ranks second highest in health care spending (13% GDP) among OECD countries; and, more than 70% of health care is funded by tax payers.

Across Canada, there has been debate about shifting accountability for funding health care and services between federal and provincial (or territorial) government - who requested an increase to the federal Canada Health Transfer from 22% to 35%. The accepted offer was an increase to 24% and this federal portion across Canada amounts to $196 billion that includes $46.2 billion in “new” health care dollars over the next decade. Stop to consider the “grand total cost” of health care, it is staggering.

The federal government has requested measurement of progress in key areas such as: family health services (primary care), clearing the backlog (diagnostic, treatment and surgical), more mental health and addiction services, and improved access to electronic health information, home care and long-term care. Each province and territory must develop an action plan that details how money will be allocated along with outcome indicators to measure progress.

Funding more (and more) health care dollars - without firm solutions to the underlying issues - is like water draining through a colander. From a systems perspective, holes (broken parts) will have a multidimensional, domino effect throughout the health system.

When I was a manager in health care, I published a peer reviewed journal article that shared strategies to streamline the supply budget. This initiative ensured quality care and accommodated higher costs of new client populations. Together with my team, we rejigged strategies to address new challenges and sustained over $100,000 savings annually for 20 years (not including inflation). Savings continued for three years post-publication, until the process of another hospital merger was underway. This example describes how every employee can help curtail costs but it also cautions that processes can extinguish progress.

Reinvention strategies begin with an accountability framework that engages transformational leaders across health, government, academic and private sectors. It requires moving beyond continuous quality (process) improvement to major innovation. This entails a paradigm shift in thinking and action - to generate more innovative and impactful solutions to the health care crisis.

Cinder to Flame helps Corporations solve complex challenges with strategic services that energize people, fuel a healthy corporate culture and ignite major innovation.

Cinder to Flame's services are relevant for Corporations who share the mandate to balance costs with quality in service (and product) design and delivery and the vision for sustainable, quality living. This includes both public and private sector Corporations who provide health services or products (e.g. pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, supplies, etc.).

Thriving Cities and municipalities are predicated upon the health and well-being of people living within their communities.

Affordable housing and food security are key factors among the social determinants of health. When these basic needs are unmet, it increases health care usage and while the focus should be on people, think in terms of dollars.

Read how municipal budget decisions impact health costs:

https://www.cindertoflame.ca/post/sustainable-quality-living

Here’s an article for transformational leaders:

https://www.cindertoflame.ca/post/are-you-a-transformational-leader

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#cindertoflame #workculture #creativity #innovation #transformation #paradigmshift #strategy #leadership #management #transformationalleadership #changemanagement #humanresources #engagement #motivation #corporations #ceo #government #localgovernment #publicsector #publicservice #privatesector #healthcare

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