Lecture 2 - The Canadian Health Care System Flashcards
Medicare
Canada’s social safety net, the provision of hospital and medical insurance funded by general taxation
interlocking set of 10 provincial and 3 territorial insurance schemes providing essential hospital and physician services to insured individuals –> each province and territory decides what “essential” entails
provincial social assistance programs
provide income support for those who experience prolonged unemployment
federal employment insurance program
provides income support for short-term employment interruptions
Principles of the Canada Health Act (6)
- Accessibility - available to all eligible residents
- Public Administration - provincial and territorial plans operate on a non-profit basis through public authority
- Comprehensiveness - must cover all “medically necessary” services
- Universality - includes all registered residents without discrimination
- Portability - ensures resident’s access to health care when traveling or moving to another province (coverage for 3 months)
- Sustainability
Federal Government’s Responsibility for Health Care
responsible primarily for enforcing the Canada Health Act, financing and delivering services to target groups, and maintaining national policies and programs
- Administer the Canada Health Act
- Assist in financing provincial and territorial health care services
- Deliver or co-deliver health services for targeted groups
- Provide national policy and programming for health promotion and disease prevention
Provincial/ Territorial Responsibility for Health Care
the administration and delivery of healthcare services is primarily provincial and territorial responsibility
- Develop and administer its own insurance plan in compliance with the principles of the Canada Health Act
- Determine the organization and location of health care facilities
- Reimburse physician and hospital expenses
Professional Jurisdiction of Health Care
most health care professionals are self-regulated which allows them to determine, monitor and manage standards in relation to competencies and ethics
some are regulated through government groups or other mechanisms
Primary Health Care
foundation of Canada’s health care system –> supports community care (population health)
- the first point of contact in the system of nonurgent/ emergent care
- strong emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention
Four Pillars of Primary Health Care
- Teams - delivered in team
- Access - accessible to all and timely
- Information - easy access to accurate information and resources
- Healthy Living - focus on disease prevention and health promotion
Barriers to Primary Health Care
- Individual level barriers - lack of access, inconsistent health care providers, gender issues, determinants of health
- Practice level barriers - hours, availability, resource constraints, lack of providers
- System level barriers - not a competent primary health care model, digital constraints (ex. charting)
Levels of Health Care
Level 1 - Health Promotion
Level 2 - Disease and Injury Prevention
Level 3 - Diagnosis and Treatment
Level 4 - Rehabilitation
Level 5 - Supportive Care
Health Care Level 1 - Health Promotion
enabling people to have more control over their own health using the 5 action strategies for health promotion
- building health public policies
- creating supportive environments
- strengthening community action
- developing personal skills
- reorienting health care services
Health Care Level 2 - Disease and Injury Prevention
implemented at both individual and population levels to reduce risk factors for disease and injury using prevention strategies
- clinical actions
- behavioral aspects
- environmental actions
Health Care Level 3 - Diagnosis and Treatment
diagnosing and treating patients at three sublevels of health care
- Primary Care - first point of contact within the health care system, decides a course of action for preexisting or potential health problems
- Secondary care - occurring in a hospital or home setting, involves specialized medical services
- Tertiary Care - specialized technical care involving the diagnosis and treatment of complicated health problems (specialized hospitals, physicians, and equipment)
Health Care Level 4 - Rehabilitation
focused on improving health and quality of life for those facing life altering conditions (physical injury, mental health, injury, addiction)
Services include:
- physiotherapy
- occupational and speech therapy
- social services
