Dale Schattenkirk was the featured guest speaker on the topic "Can we change the healthcare environment?"  He challenged  the common belief that our current healthcare system was the worst ever, claiming that it is no better or worse than 10 years ago.  The same issues still exist and there continues to be a need to improve the processes in health care. 

Significantly more money than ever before, $30 billion,  is being spent on health care.  There are more doctors than we have ever had.  Currently approx 50% of healthcare spending is allocated for physicians, 6% on preventative medicine, 25% on acute care.  

He shared how changing the funding allocations can make a significant difference to health outcomes. Increasing the amount spent on preventative medicine and care reduces the amount of  money that is needed to be allocated for acute care and increased basic health outcomes. Dale spoke of the need to have long term supports readily available outside the hospital, reducing the length of time patients occupy acute care beds while waiting for appropriate placements.  Rehabilitative services are best provided within the community as the hospital's focus should be on acute care. 

A change in models and processes only happen when we understand what is holding us back from making the change. Some of those resisting factors include being wary of losing something of value, feeling that changing is an acknowledgement of past wrongdoing, and concerns about changing routines or the need for organizational unlearning. 

Dale emphasized that healthcare should not be a segmented approach with each province taking a different take on how to solve issues.  A common problem is best worked on together for the common good. Dale challenged us to look at healthcare in a new light and be open to considering alternative solutions to long standing issues with processes and practices.