Primary Health Care

As we watch, as if from the shores of a “great lake” during a lightening, thunder and rain storm…the new world order ushered in as economic chaos, we must be humbled. Nature in all its fury can be humbling. It is time to accept a “humbling’ view of the “storms” raging waters of cleansing. The earth receives a cleansing with every rain storm and we are witnessing a “cleansing” effect in the corporate world. One enterprise that needed a good cleansing, followed by transparent sky and promising horizon was and has been for some time, Health Care Organizations.

Many that like to predict the forecast or the future, have been taken back by how quickly the economy (and financial institutions) became so volatile and turbulent. Many in health care are feeling pretty certain that staying the course or the status quo is the right thing to do. Anyone in a leadership, management or decision making position that is “comfortable” and staying “indoors” for what is unfolding, should be relieved of their post. It is more than apparent that the status quo is neither sustainable nor should be. Transparency is the absolute answer, and openess to evaluation and contribution from front-line-staff is essential. Much of what is plaguing the economy will also reveal a dysfunctional health care system. Any politician worthy of being re-elected to another term, will be the most open and accountable politician in history.

I provide this one thought, as I begin to examine for myself, more closely, the impact of the aging demographic and the “accessibility” issues that exist in providing safe, ethical and competent care in any and all health care environments. My suggestion is that any and all health care organizations, integrate the use of wiki’s for communication, collaboration and clinical enhancement.

I leave you now with a link that will begin the dialogue of the benefit of examining organizational culture and how empowering front-line staff and leadership alike. READ THIS “Deploying an enterprise-wide wiki is a long-term investment in employee productivity and company success. While you can install a wiki in a matter of minutes, it may take months or even years for an opt-in culture to evolve. The payoff, however, is enormous and well worth the wait”.

and then click here

once you read the article about “opt-in cultures”, ask yourself: is there any other business or organization as vulnerable as health care when the culture is one of “opt-out”. Truly the front line staff are vulnerable to burn-out and care-giving-stress, with the absenteeism and injury/lost time, that has been researched to suggest in Ontario we are already in a crisis. The leadership and organization are vulnerable as they are witnessing the greatest nursing shortage ever, with the peak of a long term drought has not yet arrived. For those “stuck” in the status quo paradigm, they will be as the captain of the “fated” Titanic. To be arrogant in thinking that nothing is going to happen in the greater, larger “unsinkable” organizations, is of an attitude that is “fated” to bring disaster. It truly will be disaster to see the publically funded “medicare” ship go under. What will be left to take the place, may save too few, be a life-boat too over-crowded to consider to charter a course of searching for survivors.

Primary Health Care’s first principle, accessibility is a failing prospect on the current course that has been charted. It takes leadership that is oriented to Primary Health Care, to know where it is that the “tips-of-the-icebergs” lie. The aging populations equals a double-edged sword. There are those that will need more care (as just the reality for those older), while at the same time an aging work-force, being enticed or in need of extention of service beyond retirement age, are often more vulnerable themselves. It is well known that the “backs” of health care workers are compromised as a tool of the trade. What might be a temporary solution, (the retention of post-retirement RN’s) is destined to be a ever growing concern. This is not to say that many seasoned RN”s (in their 50’s and 60’s) do not provide value in the knowledge and skill department, it is more the additional impact of stress of working in stressful environments we should care deeply about. In other words, since they represent a growing resource (more nurse are retiring) someone should be tracking whether or not we are seeing more work related time off, and or injury in the older worker. Is it not ethical that we should support the rewards of retirement, rather than exploit just because they are already in the system, and do not need the training as a new grad would.

What I wish to convey more than any thing else. There are many very good reasons to have as extensive a corporate wellness program, that targets health promotion, injury and illness prevention, of which I specialize, being an aging baby boomer nurse myself.

Thoughts for you to ponder,

Yours in health and wellness,

Dave