Yesterday, zone health foundations met in Cochrane to brainstorm and explore exactly where they fit in the province’s new four-pillar health system.
As it stands, Brian Winter, chair of the Cochrane and Area Health Foundation, says health foundations are awaiting clarification on their role in the new system. He says they are anticipating an announcement this spring.
“There are a lot of unanswered questions, so we’ll just wait and see what the government’s going to announce about health care or health foundations and see if it’s going to work."
"Then we’re going to plan another meeting to see if we need to put more pressure on the government to get back to what we’re doing, but we’re not exactly sure," he continues. "We’re sort of in a vacuum right now,” Winter said.
Wendy Kennelly, executive director of the High River District Health Foundation, was among those listening to Health Minister Adriana LaGrange’s announcement on Mar. 30 on urgent care centres.
“What I heard is they are going to continue spending money on feasibility, but I think it has to happen faster. So let’s not sit and do that over multiple years. There’s just a lot up in the air right now. There’s a lot at play, and change isn’t always a bad thing, but there are a lot of balls in the air. And so how do you do all of those things and do them the right way for each of those communities who need health care right now, today?” she said.
In the meantime, Winter says the group worked toward developing a strategy to address common issues and challenges. He says they discussed the ins and outs of fundraising—what was working, what wasn’t—and what grant opportunities exist.
Kennelly also valued the chance to meet with other health foundations in the zone. The High River foundation is a well-established, 39-year-old organization working to advance public health care in both High River and Nanton to ensure they have the right equipment, the right people and the right programs in place for their residents.
“What’s nice about this is we’re collaborating with nearby foundations. We’re all in the same zone, so we have the same sort of health priorities, health issues and politics at play. So we can get creative together and work smarter, not harder,” she said.
She added that Cochrane’s push for extended urgent care hours—the local foundation’s top priority—was part of the roundtable discussions.
“I think there are some really important issues here in Cochrane about the future possibility of a hospital, 24-hour urgent care, those kinds of things. So I think those things are top of mind in the group that I’m sitting and chatting with,” Kennelly said. “We’re just helping them determine priorities, how much time you focus on different things to continue being effective for the health care that’s happening today, as well as planning for the future.”
The meeting was initiated by local health foundation vice-chair Dennis Fundytus after he attended a November meeting on the restructuring of Alberta Health Services with other foundation representatives. He left believing more discussion and clarification were warranted.
RELATED STORY
- Cochrane Health Foundation steps up to assist SAR
- Health Foundation approved by Health minister
- Alberta Health minister visits Cochrane
Sixty-nine health foundations in the province collectively raised about $420 million last year alone for health-related initiatives in their communities—funds that didn’t have to come from the province’s budget.