Health Care in Canada and Alberta

HSS 1010SLO 1.4

Canada’s Health Care System

• Universal coverage for medically necessary health care services provided on the basis of need, rather than the ability to pay

Canada’s Health Care System

• Canada’s publicly funded health care system is an interlocking system of ten provincial and three territorial health insurance plans known as “Medicare”

Health Canada

• Health Canada’s mandate (its goal) is to help Canadians maintain and improve their health.

Health Care Delivery System

• Primary Health Care – the first point of contact people have with the health care system

- doctors- nurses- physical therapist- nurse on phones service- home care

Primary Health Care

Primary Health Care

• Involves providing services, through teams of health care professionals, to individuals, families and communities.• These services are publically funded from general

tax revenues without direct charges to patients.• The majority of Canadian hospitals are operated by

boards of trustees, voluntary organizations or municipalities

Provincial and Territorial Role in Health Care• The administration and delivery of health care

services is the responsibility of each province and territory, guided by the provisions of the Canada Health Act• Funding comes from the provinces and territories

with assistance from the federal government• Most of the expenses for health care are for:

1) services of health care professionals2) care in hospitals

Community Health Centers

• Work in the community to:• Protect• Promote• Prevent• Rehabilitate• Support• Treat

Community Health Centers• Examples of services

- Clinics and Immunization(flu, travel etc)

- Education, Consultation and Counseling(oral health consults, seniors’ support,

nutrition etc)- Support Services

(nursing home care, occupational therapy, new baby follow-ups etc)

Community Health Centers

• Allied Health Services( speech and language services, audiology services etc)