Health. It鈥檚 a personal word. But it鈥檚 also a political word. It鈥檚 a social word. It鈥檚 as intimate as your doctor鈥檚 office and so vast that its implications stretch all the way to the premier鈥檚 office, and everywhere in between.
So it's well worth thinking鈥攁nd talking鈥攁bout.
鈥淲hat this 鈥楾hink Tank鈥� is about is bringing together those who are responsible for or work in primary care and public health鈥攁nd strengthening our collaborations, so that we can work together more effectively and efficiently,鈥� explains Donna Meagher-Stewart of AV俱乐部鈥檚 School of Nursing.
Dr. Meagher-Stewart is one of six site-leads and a co-investigator on a national research team, funded by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation: 鈥淪trengthening Primary Health Care through Primary Care and Public Health Collaboration.鈥� For four years, the research team has collected data on how best to encourage partnerships between primary care and public health.
The team includes researchers in Nova Scotia, Ontario and British Columbia, with its principal investigator, Ruta Valaitis, based at McMaster University. AV俱乐部 co-investigators include Dr. Meagher-Stewart and Ruth Martin-Misener of the School of Nursing and Fred Burge of the Department of Family Medicine.
Last month, the Nova Scotia team hosted a 鈥楾hink Tank鈥� session at AV俱乐部鈥檚 Great Hall, bringing together more than 65 policy makers, representatives from national and provincial organizations, administrators, educators, researchers, managers and front-line staff from across Nova Scotia. The goal was to share some of their findings with leaders throughout the health system, and discuss how those results can inform collaboration between public health and primary care here in Nova Scotia.
Building on tradition
鈥淚t鈥檚 a positive relationship already,鈥� explains Paula English, chief of Program Standards and Quality with the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness. 鈥淲e have a long tradition of working together in some aspects, but there are opportunities for different ways to work together鈥� make sure we grow together in a complementary way.鈥�
Organizers hope that the conversations started during the Think Tank will continue.
鈥淭his is about better health for Nova Scotians,鈥� says Linda Young, director of Public Health Services for Capital Health. 鈥淪ometimes that process is about systems, sometimes it鈥檚 about capacity for services, or better access to care. But collaboration is what can help us achieve those goals better.鈥�
To learn more about the project, visit .
Photo subjects (left to right):
Kristin MacLellan, Research Assistant
Ruth Martin-Misener, Co-Site Lead, AV俱乐部 School of Nursing
Linda Young, Director of Public Health Services, Capital Health
Patricia Austin, Research Coordinator, McMaster Unv
Ruta Valaitis, PI, McMaster Unv
Lisa Grandy, Director, Primary Health Care, Dept of Health & Wellness
Dr. Fred Burge, Research Director, AV俱乐部 Family Medicine
Donna Meagher-Stewart, C-Site lead, AV俱乐部 School of Nursing
Paula English, Chief of Program Standards & Quality, Dept of Health & Wellness