St. Michael’s launches campaign to reinvent patient care

TORONTO – St. Michael’s Foundation has announced a $1-billion campaign to reinvent the patient care experience after a recent survey conducted by Leger Canada revealed the majority of Canadians (68 per cent) say they believe healthcare needs an overhaul. The survey – which was commissioned by the Foundation – also revealed that 46 per cent of respondents say they believe the pandemic worsened Canadian healthcare, and feel there is room for improvement.

St. Michael’s Foundation engaged Leger Canada to conduct an online, national, survey of 1,926 Canadians 18+ to deepen its understanding of the national healthcare experience (oversampled Indigenous Peoples, racialized people, gender-diverse Canadians, disabled Canadians, and Canadians who use substances) between July 20 and August 5, 2021.

While the results revealed the majority (76 per cent) of Canadians are satisfied with the healthcare they receive, less than half say they feel safe and only four in 10 say they feel comfortable during their healthcare experiences. These results are worse for those Canadians experiencing marginalization. Nearly two thirds of those who identify as BIPOC, those belonging to the LGBTQ2+ community and those living with a disability report they do not feel safe, listened to, respected, or confident in their healthcare experiences. When asked what would have the most positive impact, the following rose to the top of the list: receiving the best treatment for the condition in question, being able to see a specialist faster, reasonable ER and appointment wait times, and healthcare providers who actively listen.

“Every Canadian deserves a healthcare experience where patients and their loved ones feel comforted when they’re at their most vulnerable, connected to the team who cares for them, and confident in their treatment – no matter who they are or where they come from,” says Dr. Tim Rutledge, president and CEO of Unity Health Toronto. “Today, with the official launch of HUMANCARE, we celebrate a major step in our journey to reinvent the patient experience.”

HUMANCARE will dismantle barriers to access to care, shorten wait times and ensure that treatment decisions are made in partnership with patients and their loved ones. As one of Canada’s leading research hospitals, St. Michael’s will propel discovery and innovation through a world-first Care Experience Institute with 11 specialty centres that focus research, education and programs in all facets of the healthcare experience, all while harnessing the power of AI and advanced analytics.

“HUMANCARE is more than a campaign. It’s a $1-billion movement to create – alongside our patients and their families – a global framework and standard for the patient experience that doesn’t yet exist. With the support of our donors, St. Michael’s Foundation will stop at nothing to champion this change,” says Lili Litwin (pictured), president, St. Michael’s Foundation.

About St. Michael’s Foundation
St. Michael’s Hospital is a global powerhouse in research and patient care. Its world-leading physicians, surgeons, scientists and staff take on the toughest health challenges. They dig deep to find solutions to intractable medical problems. They advocate on behalf of those whose health is complicated by life circumstances. They stop at nothing. More information can be found at www.stmichaelsfoundation.com.

SOURCE: St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation