Hallway Medicine- Who is chosen?

“I invite the premier, health minster, and the people directly responsible for this decision to come for a sleepover in the hallway of one of our hospitals for a few days. Once you have experienced the indignity of eating, sleeping, and toileting in a thin gown in front of a ward full of people, visitors, doctors, custodial staff and other allied health-care workers, I might be willing to accept that this policy was made in an informed way.”

The above is from a powerful opinion piece written by Manpreet (Mona) Gill. Click here to read the full article.

Have your say

There is discussion happening surrounding mask mandates in hospitals and other care facilities. Do you think such mandates should be maintained?

A Must Read

If you are scrambling to get things done and can only read one thing, consider reading this Twitter thread by Conor Browne.

Did You Miss This Article?

If you have not read Dr. Gabriel Fabreau’s opinion piece found in the June 4, 2022, Calgary Herald, you will want to do so. Among other things, Dr. Fabreau provides an honest view of what it is like in Alberta hospitals. According to him, “After two years of COVID-19, our hospitals have never been worse off.”

Take a few minutes to read this important article. It will be time well spent.

What have we learned?

Over the past two years, what lessons have we learned from and about COVID?

First Nations: ER triage scores in Alberta

A study conducted by Patrick McLane, Cheryl Barnabe, Leslee Mackey, Lea Bill, Katherine Rittenbach, Brian R. Holroyd, Anne Bird, Bonnie Healy, Kris Janvier, Eunice Louis and Rhonda J. Rosychuk found that First Nations people in Alberta recieved different triage scores than other populations. According to the researchers, “Systemic racism, stereotyping and differential access to health care resources (especially primary care), as well as factors such as communication and level of patient trust in the health care system, may all contribute to differences in triage scores between First Nations and non–First Nations patients.”

Click here to read the study.

Help to Define Patient Safety

What is Patient Safety?

What does “patient safety” mean?

The University Health Network Open Lab team is working closely with the safety team at Healthcare Excellence Canada on their Defining Safety project. The goal of this project is to understand perspectives on the definition and future of patient safety from patients, caregivers, professionals, and leaders across Canada.

As a means of obtaining insights and ideas from Canadians, a ‘thought exchange’ about patient safety has been created. This exchange is a completely anonymous platform that provides space for participants to describe what they think the salient features are that should be included in a definition of patient safety.

If you live in Canada and want to join in the conversation on patient safety, click here.