Dr. Brian Day calls it like it is.

Dr. Brian Day president of CIMCA has issued a statement today in light of the Canadian Press and Globe and Mail report that the Provinces's can't Keep Health Care Promise .

This revelation follows last weeks news that while each province is moving forward on the project, there is no centralization of the information.

Dr. Day responded strongly:


Failure to meet wait time benchmarks “unacceptable,” says medical clinics association


“Wait times should be eliminated, not managed”



Vancouver, B.C. – Canada’s independent medical clinics today said that the failure to set wait time benchmarks for medical procedures is symptomatic of an outdated health care system that is incapable of meeting patient needs.

“Wait times do not need be managed,” said Dr. Brian Day, orthopaedic surgeon and President of Canadian Independent Medical Clinics Association (CIMCA), “They need to be eliminated.”

The Supreme Court of Canada has stated that the pain and suffering of patients waiting for necessary health care is unacceptable.

“If we are incapable of benchmarking wait times for five medical procedures, how will we ever find the will and the resources to actually reduce wait lists for all procedures?” asked Day.

“Creating appropriate benchmarks for access to medical care is simple,” says Day. “Emergencies and urgent procedures should be done immediately and everything else within a week or two, as is the case in many other countries. Canadians deserve the same standards of care and access seen in many European countries that have no waits.

CIMCA will hold a national conference – Saving Medicare: Strategies and Solutions - in Vancouver on November 11-12, 2005, where delegates and experts from around the world will explain how simple the solutions are.



CIMCA is a non-profit organization that represents medical clinics, health care workers and patients. Its mission is to promote improved access to high quality and timely health care for all Canadians.

International Masters in Health Leadership

I learned today that the IMHL program has been firmly set to launch in June 2006.

This program is part brainchild of Henry Mintzberg.

I came to read of the program after becoming enthralled with Mintzberg's approach to management education in this Fast Company article. Shortly after the article, I had the GREAT fortune to attend the launch of Henry's book Manager's Not MBAs. (Thanks to Mitch Joel for inviting me to the book launch!)

In 1995 Mintzberg launched the International Masters Program in Practicing Management . Once I found out that there was a healthcare focussed version of the program, I knew that it was something for me.

Initially the program was set to start in June 2005, which would not have been feasible for me. (My son Dylan was born in April). Now that the start date is June 2006, I will start my application forms on the weekend!

MedExtra in the Globe and Mail today

The Globe and Mail published an article today, Patients turning to care brokers by Lisa Priest that quoted Dr. Brock, President of MedExtra.

It is all about how Canadians are seeking (and finding)healtcare resources that are most suitable to them.

The article is on page S1.

You can check out the article here:

The Globe and Mail - Patients turning to care brokers | Canadians facing long treatment waits using companies to find U.S. care

Thanks Lisa, for the interview.

Bringing Thoughtful Vision to Canadian Healthcare

Healthcare is a very important matter. As Canadians we cherish the comfort we feel knowing that we can rely on the availability of health resources. Decisions made (or not made) and actions taken (or not taken) today will have significant impact on the future of Canadian healthcare systems.

CIMCA (Canadian Independant Medical Clinics Association), a national organization formed in July, which “promotes improved access to high quality and timely healthcare for all Canadians.”

Make your opinion count. Click here to join CIMCA now.

Be part of the solution. Click here to learn more about CIMCA’s November 11th conference in Vancouver.

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more on CIMCA from their website


Mission:

"The Canadian Independent Medical Clinics Association (CIMCA) is a professional non-profit organization that represents independent medical clinics and their supporters across the nation, and promotes improved access to high quality and timely health care for all Canadians."

Objectives:
To represent, promote and support our members

To ensure delivery of high quality patient care and the highest professional and ethical standards;

To nurture cooperation between independent and public health care organizations;

To improve public policies that impact on access to health care for Canadians

To inform and educate the Canadians about our role;

To build supportive and cooperative relationships with governments, other medical organizations and the health care industry;

To encourage innovation, new technology and promote accountability in health care

MedExtra's Dr. Brock on the air

Dr. Brock was welcomed as a guest on Montreal NEW 940 News .

Hosts Donna Byrne of Health Access Sante and Charles Pitts of Oroalliance discuss health matters on a weekly basis.

This week, Dr. Brock joined them to discuss how people can gain timely access to the health resources they seek.

The radioshow can be downloaded here . Dr. Brock is on about halfway through.