The COVID-19 pandemic is fundamentally shifting the delivery of health care in Canada, an unprecedented disruption opportunity. My many interactions with Canadians and all levels of government reveal that we have their attention. The pandemic’s exposure of systemic inequalities, deficiencies and racism demands a major shift in our approach to care. The impact of climate change on health can no longer be ignored.
Healthcare Reform: To be most effective and efficient, healthcare should be rooted in the community, guided by nationally established expected standards of care. Our commitment to collaboration and respectful relationships with indigenous people and communities is essential to this reform. Services should be accessible, high-quality and delivered in a culturally safe fashion close to home. Yet, primary care is in critical overload and acute care waitlists are growing. Smart integration between community and acute care, primary and consultant care, and home and residential care will be needed. New models to address the multiple root causes of the primary care crisis and to address the backlog of acute care services will require new investment. I will use my experienced voice to advocate for new resources in primary and community based care infrastructure and enhanced acute care services, including imaging and surgical procedures. Continued development and leveraging of enabling technologies to empower patients, enhance patient care and reduce physician workload is required to address such burdens as: continuity of medical records; information sharing between providers; team based care; virtual support for longitudinal primary care; and real time access to specialty consultation to improve patient care and smooth the patient’s journey.
Physician Wellness: The tenuous nature of our healthcare workforce is now highlighted, in particular the systemic and medical culture issues driving burn out and moral distress. Urgently addressing our physical and psychological safety as we deliver healthcare is long overdue. Together physicians, patients, communities, and governing bodies can proactively define our new Canadian healthcare system and the evolving role of Physicians to optimize use of our skills in a safe environment to the benefit all.
Physician Advocacy and Leadership: CMA’s Impact 2040 outlines aspirations for a healthcare system that works better, smarter. Engaging frontline physicians to actively share their real time issues is critical to attaining ongoing system improvements. In my 18 months as Doctors of BC President, I actively captured critical physician voices in understanding, and addressing, evolving systemic barriers and limitations in healthcare delivery. I intend to use my skills to further enhance physician leadership, advocacy, and engagement at all stages of their careers, particularly in residency and early career, our future.
The need for authentic, frontline, grassroots, and experienced perspective in both community and acute care has never been greater. My extensive medical and community leadership and advocacy experience is unique. I have strong skills in engagement and facilitating discussions on key issues, policies, and media. I am a servant leader who has demonstrated the ability to act on behalf of my colleagues to lead meaningful system improvements. I will bring my experience as an inspirational leader, strategic planner and passionate physician advocate to my work as CMA President Elect.