Town Hall: Unpacking Island Health’s New Patient Care Model

On April 23, 2014 Island Health (VIHA) will launch a new Patient Care Model at the Royal Jubilee and Victoria General Hospitals. According to Island Health the model (titled Care Delivery Model Redesign, or CDMR) will address strains on the health care system while increasing the care time a patient receives. According to the BC Nurses Union, it could put patients at risk as highly trained nurses are replaced with significantly less-trained health care aids.

Many constituents have already written Andrew Weaver with their concerns about the patient care model. The purpose of this town hall is to try to bring together the different perspectives so that we can all get informed about this significant change to our health care system.

Panelists include: Dr. Noreen Frisch, Professor and Director of the Uvic School of Nursing; Dr. Paddy Rodney, Director at Large – Association of Registered Nurses of British Columbia and Professor at UBC School of Nursing; Sara Shorten, representative from the Uvic Nursing Student Society; Adriane Gear, South Island Regional Co-chair – British Columbia Nurses Union.

Island Health was invited but declined to participate.

Format: Andrew Weaver will moderate a panel discussion and Q&A

Date: February 27, 2014

Time: 19:00-20:30

Location: Oak Bay Recreation Centre Lounge, 1975 Bee St.

Everyone welcome!

3 Comments

  1. Richard Habgood-
    February 24, 2014 at 9:09 pm

    If we want a functional health care system we need to pay for it which means higher taxes. The problem…politically even whispering the words ‘ raising taxes ‘ is doom.

    Our FPtP electoral system breeds ‘ individual wealth ‘ because of low taxes, which in turn eventually brings on privatization.
    Corporations and very wealthy people are well aware of this fact, as is our Premier. It’s a very old ploy. Lower taxes, starve the beast, create the environment for change, then cut services by saying we can’t afford them, privatize.

    Harper, Clark and Patterson are lining the to catch the ball which was thrown years ago by Campbell.

    All the Northern Europe/Germany have functioning PR electoral systems, systems which equates to ‘ collective wealth ‘ not ‘ individual wealth ‘. Until we bring about electoral change our social systems will continue their downward spiral.

    If Canada/BC is to ever have a civil society such as the ones in Europe we must first change our electoral systems.

    Suzuki has been banging on the drums for many a decade and even he admitted recently that he has failed to bring about change. Suzuki/Weaver have not failed us. Our electoral system has.

    Because of the German MMP electoral system, the very first election ( 1983 ) that the German Greens took part in saw them elect 28 members….. how are we doing???

    rhabgood@telus.net

  2. Dr. Edwin E. Daniel, Professor Emeritus-
    February 23, 2014 at 11:12 am

    I am an 88 year old senior, and a patient at the Hillside Seniors Health Clinic. This Clinic was once a model of care for senoirs, providing ready access of patients to their doctor or an alternate should she not be available. Least year, Island Health destroyed this model be demanding that the 4 part time doctors go from salaried to fee for service status, and take on more patoents and patient visits to cover their salaries. The doctors resigned and despite patients’ public protests and press coverage nothing was done. Now we have one part time physician. one temporary locum physician, and several excellent nurse practicioners. Now access of patients for care is terrible, and daily we hear of patients whose care has been fumbled and left incomplete. Now, they are being forced back to visits to the emergency room, at higher cost and poorer outcomes. The whole question of how to provide good preventive care for seniors with complex health problems is being ignored and after an excellent model was destroyed. This needs to be urgently addressed.

  3. Cheryl Thorpe-
    January 31, 2014 at 12:29 am

    I would also be interested in the panel’s opinion on recent cuts by Island Health to elective surgeries and Orthopedic surgeries. The average wait list time for total hip and knee replacements is now 12 to 18 months. I find this unacceptable as a Reg.N. for over 37 yrs … we are watching our healthcare system implode and I fear a 2 tier system with privatized care is on the near horizon.

    Long wait lists while in pain are forcing BC patients to seek surgery out of province/ country at their own expense. This is unacceptable as tax paying citizens who also pay additional MSP premiums. Our province is falling well behind the pack in offering timely professional care for its citizens.

    A concerned constituent who knows first hand @ age 59. I am waiting for a total hip replacement due to an injury sustained when hit by a drunk driver some years ago.

    Feel free to contact me for more information.

    Best Regards, Cheryl Thorpe
    320 Beach Drive 250-595-2071