Event summary produced by The Globe and Mail Events team. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.
At a time when emergency rooms across the country are under-staffed to the point of temporary closures and countless Canadians are without a primary care physician, the need for a better health care system is growing in urgency. While the challenge of innovating health care is complex, solutions are emerging. Approaches such as family health teams, expanding the role of pharmacists and virtual medicine are starting to close the gaps.
The Globe and Mail hosted a webcast on October 31 to bring health care leaders together to share examples, solutions and next steps for better patient care for Canadians, no matter where they live.
Missed the live event or would like to view it again? Scroll down to the video player below.
Carly Weeks, health reporter with The Globe and Mail moderated the webcast, opening with an interview with Dr. Andrew Pinto, public health and preventive medicine specialist and family physician with St. Michael’s Hospital, a site of Unity Health Toronto. Dr. Pinto talked about the current health care crisis and provided potential solutions to connect Canadians with the care they require.
Following the interview a panel of health care professionals and community leaders shared examples of approaches that are proving to be effective, such as community-based programs that provide clients with a range of supports and preventative health services. The panel also addressed barriers that are preventing the scale-up of alternative approaches. The panel included:
- Hazelle Palmer, president and CEO of Sherbourne Health;
- Dr. Alika Lafontaine, president of the Canadian Medical Association;
- Jeff Leger, president of Shoppers Drug Mart.
Watch the full discussion (60 minutes) below.
The Globe and Mail presented the event with sponsor support from Shoppers Drug Mart. The event included a representative from Shoppers Drug Mart, along with other speakers who participated independently at The Globe’s invitation.