Canadians have access to a publicly funded healthcare system where both the provincial and federal governments contribute finances through taxation to support services and care. Each individual province/territory is responsible for overseeing and delivering health care services. The federal government is responsible for setting conditions for the transfer of funds to provincial and territorial governments and sets out the principles that provincial health insurance plans must adhere to receive federal transfers (Canada’s healthcare system, 2016).
Registered nurses (RN) are found in many different roles through out the Canadian heath care system. For myself as an RN, I have chosen to work in the field of public health. In Ontario, public health is funded through The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) which is responsible for administering the health care system and providing services to residents of Ontario ((Ontario Ministry of Long-term care, 2018).
The MOHLTC’s role is to create legislation for the province’s healthcare system to operate. Funding for Ontario is divided into 8 main categories:
1. Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP)
2. Population and Public Health
3. Provincial Programs and Stewardship
4. Local Health Integration Networks (LHIN)
5. Ministry Administration
6. Health Policy and Research
7. eHealth and Information Management
8. Information Systems
(Healthcare in Ontario: How does it Work and How is it Funded? 2018).
Funding received by local health departments is used to implement programs and services as outlined in the Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS).
The OPHS identifies the minimum expectations for public health programs and services to be delivered by Ontario's 36 boards of health. The Standards are published by the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care as per Section 7 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act . Boards of health are accountable for implementing the Standards within their own region (Ontario Ministry of Long-term care, 2018).
In the Healthy Growth and development goal of the OPHS, requirement 3 states that: ” The board of health shall provide all components of the Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program in accordance with the Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program Protocol, 2018 (or as current)” (Ontario Public Health Standards, 2018 pg 36). Healthy Babies Healthy Children is the program that I work in currently. This program helps children get the best start in life by helping infants and children up to age six and their families through:
screening and assessments to see if there are any risks that could affect a child's healthy development and referrals to community programs and services
supports for new parents
help in finding community programs and resources on all kinds of subjects such as: breastfeeding, nutrition and health services, parenting programs and family literacy programs
(Ontario Public Health Standards: Requirements for Programs, Services, and Accountability (Standards), 2018)
I value my role within public health as I get to see first hand the differences our support can make for families within our community. For a better understanding of Healthy Babies Healthy Children please check out the video below.
*the first 10 minutes give a great overview of program*
References
Healthcare in Ontario: How does it Work and How is it Funded? (2018, May 30). Retrieved September 23, 2018 from http://www.closingthegap.ca/guides/healthcare-in-ontario-how-does-it-work-and-how-is-it-funded/
Canada’s healthcare system. (2016, August 22). Retrieved September 23, 2018 from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/canada-health-care-system.html
Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care (2018, July 25). Retrieved September 25, 2018 from http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/
Ontario Public Health Standards: Requirements for Programs, Services and Accountability (Standards) (2018, July 1). Retrieved September 24, 2018 from http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/oph_standards/docs/protocols_guidelines/Ontario_Public_Health_Standards_2018_en.pdf
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