Yesterday we had our first workshop in our conference room at the new location (45 Charles St. East). I’m pleased to report that it went great. It’s a great room for the kind of workshops we put on as it fosters interactivity. Hopefully you’ll see it sometime soon as the majority of our workshops will […]
Community Consultations and LHINs
One of the major challenges of community engagement processes such as the recent consultation undertaken by the Toronto Central LHIN is ensuring that the full diversity of voices and perspectives are heard. Access Alliance, a Toronto Community Health Centre focussing on the health needs of immigrant and refugee communities, was concerned that these communites had […]
Health Disparities & Neighbourhoods
The Canadian Institute for Health Information released a major research report documenting health disparities by urban neighbourhood which: documents pervasive health differences between affluent and poor neighbourhoods; reviews consistent research findings on the adverse health impact of poor housing, environment, lack of access to heath and social; services, adequate food, transportation and recreational facilities;
New Website On The Social Determinants Of Health
The Public Health Agency of Canada has launched a new web site related to Canada’s work in the World Health Organization’s Commission on the Social Determinants of Health. It provides information on the Canadian reference group (I was at a consultation on the role of civil society in relation to the SDoH organized by the […]
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Second Stage of Medicare
One of the most important challenges facing the progressive health community is how to try to frame the debate in ways that will win public support and shift the way health reform is understood. Public opinion data clearly shows solid support for the values of universal access and Medicare, but there are also widespread worries […]
Planning Resources on Community Health and Development
The KU Work Group on Community Health and Development provides a range of useful planning resources on community development as one crucial direction for improving population health and addressing health inequities. Established in 1975, it was designated by the World Health Organization as a WHO Collaborating Centre in 2004 Its core values and assumptions are:
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Pandemic Flu Planning through an Equity Lens
The possibility of an H1N1 pandemic is quite properly receiving a great deal of policy and health system attention. This is not just a question of system preparedness and monitoring; the potentially unequal impact of any pandemic needs to be addressed from the outset:
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Second Stage of Medicare messaging can be effectively used
when discussion is focused on problems in the current system and privatization is offered as an option to solve those problems; as an overarching frame when presenting organizational, technical (and not very exciting!) public sector solutions to health care problem; to demonstrate unity of purpose like-minded organizations dedicated to our universal, not-for profit health care […]
Continue ReadingSecond Stage of Medicare messaging can be effectively used
Thinking/Designing Urban Spaces for Population Health
An interesting recent report from New Zealand highlights the importance of urban environments for population health. Healthy Places, Healthy Lives examines research evidence and sets out a number of case studies that illustrate ways to design cities, towns, neighbourhoods and streets to promote health.
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Home Care Through an Equity Lens
An article in a Globe and Mail series on innovation in health care delivery highlighted the potential of home visits from family physicians to helping people live independently in their own homes. This can both reduce overall system costs through avoiding or delaying institutionalization and significantly improve the quality of people’s lives. But let’s think a […]