CANADIAN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM-MY UNDERSTANDING AND EXPERIENCE WITH IT.
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My understanding of the Canadian Health Care System, in Canada, is all medical treatments and medications in hospital are paid for. Not all services and medications, outside of hospitals, are paid for completely, leaving those without income or low income to not receive necessary healthcare services and medication. Chowdhury & Chowdhury (2018) states the Canadian health care system is a mix of public and private participation. Chowdhury & Chowdhury (2018) also state, the Canadian Health Act provides no formal definition of medial needs and the provincial and territorial health insurance decide which services are needed. Those who are unemployed, self employed, on a tight pension or do not have a pension are unable to pay for medication prescriptions and treatments, therefore, Canadians are facing inequalities in acquiring medical services (Chowdhury & Chowdhury, 2018). Public health insurance plans cover some medically necessary medical services (Martin, et. al., 2018). Approximately 70% of healthcare is paid through tax payer dollars and the rest paid out of pocket (Chowdhury & Chowdhury, 2018 & Martin et. al., 2018). Having to pay out of pocket leaves some without needed services and medications (Martin, et. al., 2018).
As a Nurse Manager in Long-Term Care, my experience with the Canadian Health Care System, consists of Provincial Government funded, regulated bodies, that work together to plan, integrate and distribute the funds for all public healthcare services at a regional level (Armstrong, Daily & Choiniere, 2016). The Canadian Care Access Center (CCAC) is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. It provides health care and services to eligible people. There are 14 CCAC’s across Ontario. CCAC helps select and assist those in looking for long term home beds, and other services. The Local Health Integeration Networks (LHIN's) is also funded by the ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. It is one of the health authorities responsible for disturbing funds to healthcare services. The LIHNS are locally based associations responsible for who receives care, the level of care and for how long. The LHINS and CCAC works closely with long-term care homes by assisting the public in finding and securing a bed. The PC Government’s plan is to dissolve the LHIN’s and replace them with five regional overseer bodies (CBC, 2019). One of the ways Long-term Care homes, in Canada, receive their funding is through the RAI-MDS. The RAI-MDS measurement tool used in Canadian long-term care homes (Armstrong, Daly, & Choiniere, 2016). It consists of detailed information, such as, falls, pressure ulcers, restraint use and antipsychotics (Armstrong, Daly, & Choiniere, 2016). Data collected through the RAI-MDS is transmitted to Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI). CIHI is funded by the Federal, Provincial and Territorial governments. It provides information, analysis, reports and alloates resources, on information it receives (Armstrong, Daly, & Choiniere, 2016).
References
Armstong, H., Daly, T. J., & Choiniere, J. A. (2016). Policies and Practices: The Case of RAI-MDS in Canadian Long- Term Care Homes. Journal of Canadian Studies, 50, 348- 367.
Chowdhury, M. Z. I., & Chowdhury, M. A. (2018). Canadian Health Care System: Who Should Pay for All Medically Beneficial Treatments? A Burning Issue. International Journal of Health Services, 48(2), 289-301.
Martin, D., Miller.A.P., Quesnel-Vallee, A., Caron, N.R., Vissandjee, B., &Marchildon, G.P. (2018). Canada's universal healthcare system: achieving its potential. The Lancet, 392, 1718-1735.
Medeleaunu, M. V., (2018). Improving Long Term Care in Canada. Sociology and Social Work, 11(1), 31-41. Retrieved from http://rnao.ca/bpg/initiatives/longterm-care-best- practices-initiative.
CBC News.(2019). Doug Ford Government. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/what- are-0ntario-health-teams-doug-ford-government- 1.5035750.
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