Tiens? Au moins une parole, quelque part, m�me de loin...
Alain Vadeboncoeur ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brenda" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 4:00 PM Subject: Message from CAEP | [EMAIL PROTECTED] | | MEDIA RELEASE | Emergency physicians call for national forum on emergency health care | | For Immediate Release | | Ottawa, August 14, 2002--On August 2, 2002, while the premiers were | resolving to hold a first ministers' conference to discuss "a new | co-operative relationship that will revitalize and sustain health care for | all Canadians", the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians was calling | for a National Forum on Emergency Health Care. | | "We cannot leave health planning solely in the hands of the government, look | what happened in Qu�bec!" stated Dr. Fran�ois B�langer, President of the | Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP). He was referring to | the much-criticized special law adopted by the Qu�bec government last month, | that forces doctors (not necessarily emergency-medicine trained) to work in | emergency departments, no matter what their level of comfort in delivering | emergency services, nor the quantity of recent work commitments. | | "The scenario is now becoming all too common nationwide. There is an | unfortunate death, exposing a gap in the emergency health care system.," | continued Dr. B�langer. "This is followed by intense media scrutiny and the | government of the day, wishing to avoid the negative publicity, quickly | provides a 'band-aid' political solution. The media moves on to the next | story and fundamental reform is forgotten until the next crisis. Reactive | politics, therefore, becomes a substitute for sound public health policy." | | CAEP does not believe it is time to "move on to the next story". There is | an urgent need for a National Forum on Emergency Health Care, to | specifically address the severe human resources shortage, chronic emergency | department (ED) overcrowding, and the absence of national performance | standards. Also on the proposed forum agenda are regionalization of | emergency services, ED information systems, emergency medicine research and | a creative approach to emergency physician compensation. | | "Canada is capable of maintaining an effective emergency health system and | pursuing excellence in emergency health provision. We have formally | approached all premiers, and are in contact with the federal Health | Ministry, regarding our proposal for a national forum. Our past efforts | provide a strong basis for further enhancements in the emergency health | system and our direct understanding of what is working and what does not | will prove to be an invaluable resource to the government." | | In fact, CAEP is considering moving ahead with the National Forum on | Emergency Health Care, with or without governments' support. "But that is | not ideal," commented Dr. B�langer. "Timely improvements to the emergency | health system require cooperation from all levels of government plus the | direct involvement of emergency physicians in the planning process." | | CAEP's goal is to initiate discussions with the provinces on the critical | challenges facing emergency health this fall, and a National Forum on | Emergency Health Care in 2003. | | "The recent situation in Qu�bec is alarming and unhealthy, but not isolated | and definitely not over. Pressure on all the provinces must be sustained so | fundamental reform is not overlooked again. This is the only way to provide | the public with an emergency health service that provides effective, | accessible care that is responsive to the community's needs." | | -30- | | Contact: Simone White, Public Affairs Desk, CAEP | (613) 523-3343 X. 13 ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) | Sue Norrington, Administrator, CAEP | (613) 523-3343 X. 15 ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) | | |
