Charting a #PrescriptionForCare With Your Input

As the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed, caregiving is one of the most important roles in our healthcare system … and it needs more attention.

While the act of caregiving is rewarding, for many people it’s not easy and not without challenges.  Today more than one in five Canadians are unpaid caregivers to family members and friends, with a physical, cognitive, or mental health condition.

Not only are caregivers a vital resource to those they care for, but they are a critical healthcare partner who are often charged with advocating, mediating, and coordinating care with healthcare professionals in a complex healthcare system.

What if there was a better way to support caregivers and change the way we view and deliver healthcare in Canada? 

Beginning on National Caregiver Day (April 5, 2022), Teva Canada started the #PrescriptionForCare conversation.  It’s introducing initiatives to examine the future of healthcare in Canada; what it looks like and how it needs to evolve to best serve Canadians and caregivers.  As a leader in providing caregiving resources to Canadians online and through local pharmacies, this year Teva Canada is bringing important voices in the healthcare, patient and caregiving spaces together with a goal to develop ideas to support a new, collaborative model of care that supports people in all stages of life.

 #PrescriptionForCare – Podcast Series

Teva Canada is pleased to be partnering with People Before Patients, a movement that invites everyone to engage in healthcare reform. In this 5-part weekly podcast series, you can listen to a new podcast each week featuring the experiences and ideas from leading thought leaders as they re-imagine healthcare delivery that supports patients and their caregivers.

“The pandemic meant that many Canadians experienced the limitations of our healthcare system. Many caregivers have had to fill in the gaps when caring for a family member or friend who is vulnerable. Through several new initiatives, we are creating a platform for the exchange of ideas, big and small, that empowers caregivers to collaborate with health professionals and stakeholders for a better system,” says People Before Patients’ CEO and podcast host, Mark Stolow.

Each week, a new guest will reflect on an important pillar of the healthcare system and will highlight what their personal prescription for the future of Canadian healthcare should encapsulate.  Tune in to Episode #1 to hear Scott Swanson, a caregiver from British Columbia, as he discusses the concept of “Caring for the Whole Person”.  Here he’ll share his experiences as the primary carer to his daughter who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of six.  He also has a unique perspective having looked after his aging parents and their medical needs across the U.S. border and dealing with two very different healthcare systems.

On April 12, Dr. Danielle Paes, the Chief Pharmacist Officer at the Canadian Pharmacists Association shares her thoughts on “Professionals Recognizing the Know-How of their Clients”.  During Episode #2, she speaks to the importance of collaboration between healthcare professionals and the individuals impacted by the health issue. Dr. Paes reminds us that there is equal virtue in the expertise that evolves from medical knowledge and lived experience. She believes that when we invite this collaborative meeting of two minds, trust, transparency, and partnerships grow and good health outcomes follow.

In the coming weeks, we’ll hear from experts in Gerontology, Nursing, and spiritual wellness.

#PrescriptionForCare Survey – Share your opinions and ideas on healthcare reform

Teva Canada is engaged and dedicated to providing a platform for Canadians’ individual and collective visions of what the future of healthcare should look like – from all perspectives.  Through the #PrescriptionForCare online survey we’re looking for input based on your experiences.

Are you satisfied with your healthcare system?  What do you view as the biggest challenges to good healthcare delivery? What are the kinds of resources that would enhance public healthcare?  How did COVID-19 impact your experience with the healthcare system? What are your ideas for change?

We know healthcare is a matter of importance to all Canadians and we want to hear how it could be re-imagined benefitting your health and the health of your communities. While surveys are confidential, we’ll be sharing the results with key government stakeholder and leaders in the healthcare space.  It’s time to move forward and write a new #PrescriptionForCare! 

#PrescriptionForCare Event – Register for a free, live virtual event

The conversation will explore many unique perspectives on healthcare leading up to a collaborative virtual panel discussion presented by Teva Canada and People Before Patients.  The discussion will feature a keynote address by former TSN host and mental health advocate, Michael Landsberg, along with a live exchange and wrap up of ideas from health experts featured in the month-long podcast series.  There will also be an opportunity for questions and an exchange of ideas following the presentations.

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at 12:00 noon EDT. Hosted on Zoom, the event will be streamed live to Teva Canada’s Facebook page. Click to register on Eventbrite.