Issue Overview
As we learned in previous sessions, an innovative mindset can help solve real-world challenges. Health and wellness is often a high priority for many rural people. While some challenges are the same in all communities across the country, there are some unique challenges in rural settings. In many rural communities, innovation in wellness and preventative care is becoming front and centre. Topics such as preventative care, continuity of care, expanded (or adapted) healthcare provider roles, preventative care, emergency transportation, mental health, and the impact of telehealth and online health options can be opportunities to innovate for the betterment of the health of a community. For this session, we want to explore the impact that innovation can have on a rural community's health and wellness needs and the strengths inherent in rural health and wellness.In our upcoming Thought Exchange, we hope to learn from innovators in the field and answer some of the following questions:
- What are the types of roles do health and wellness professionals play that are outside of what would be considered “normal” for their job descriptions? Is this because of the system, or does the fact that they’re rurally based matter?
- Do the expanded roles make health professionals better? Is this an advantage in developing skills despite a disadvantage in workload/knowledge load or less specialization? Have professionals found balance in this area?
- How are tele health and online health care received in rural areas? Are there adaptations for rural patients that are different from those in an urban centre?
- What does continuity of care look like in rural communities? Is there a rural advantage?
- How can communities become ready to support health services and preventative approaches?
Resources
What a pandemic has taught us about the potential for innovation in rural health: Commencing an ethnography in Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Australia.
Innovations in health service organization and delivery in northern rural and remote regions: a review of the literature.
Innovation in the Canadian health system.
Rural health networks and care coordination: health care innovation in frontier communities to improve patient outcomes and reduce health care costs.
What health system challenges should responsible innovation in health address? Insights from an international scoping review.
Innovations in health service organization and delivery in northern rural and remote regions: a review of the literature.
Innovation in the Canadian health system.
Rural health networks and care coordination: health care innovation in frontier communities to improve patient outcomes and reduce health care costs.
What health system challenges should responsible innovation in health address? Insights from an international scoping review.
