What You Permit You Promote
This aphorism is useful in many settings, including when talking about person-centred care (PCC) and about patient engagement, without which PCC will never achieve its
Declaration of Health Data Rights Released, A First in Canada
A Declaration of Health Data Rights, endorsed by ICN and other organizations, has been published for the first time in Canada offering citizens a much
Person-Centred Care in Precision Health
Imagine Citizens Network (ICN) has started collaborating with the Cumming School of Medicine as they launch a new program called Precision Health[1]. The first course
The Crazy Slow Adoption of Person-Centred Care
There is an adoption problem with the concept of person-centred care (PCC). The precepts of this concept were detailed almost 30 years ago, and it has been vigorously promoted ever since. And while a commitment to PCC can be found on every Canadian health system website, it’s struggling to gain traction in what continues to be a discouragingly provider-driven healthcare system. What’s afoot? Why the crazy slow adoption of PCC?
We are now Imagine Citizens Network!
IMAGINE Citizens has refreshed its brand to become Imagine Citizens Network (ICN)! Our new name and bold new logo will better support us in building awareness of who we are and what we’re about as we continue to grow our presence in Alberta. We are indeed a network of health citizens, community partners, health-oriented organizations and innovators aimed at transforming health and care in Alberta.
True Co-Design for Patient Guide
“I just assumed my family doctor was aware.” This is a common assumption amongst Albertans who have needed care outside of that received from their
The Power of Storytelling
Amongst humans, storytelling has been a practice and an art for thousands of years. Early societies transferred their histories, aspects of their cultures and their
NOT JUST A VISITOR: Supporting someone you love in health and care facilities
Central to IMAGINE Citizens Collaborating for Health’s vision and mission is the concept of a patient- and family- or person-centred health care system. In such a system, family is broadly defined (by the patient/resident) and can include a close friend or other key support person.
Falling Through the Cracks: Greg’s Story
IMAGINE Citizens Collaborating for Health was honoured to collaborate with Greg’s Wings to host a virtual screening and discussion of Falling Through the Cracks: Greg’s Story. The event on November 25, 2020, united 24 viewers from across Alberta and other provinces.
IMAGINE COVID Survey Findings
In late August to mid-September 2020, IMAGINE Citizens conducted a brief survey of people in or connected to our community about citizen involvement in future pandemic planning and decision-making.
IMAGINE Citizens has joined the ACCESS 2022 movement
Access 2022 is a social movement to create a new day for health care in Canada, one where Canadians have access to their health information and digitally-enabled tools and services to better manage their care.
The input of everyday Albertans made a difference
A year ago, IMAGINE Citizens Collaborating for Health completed a project in which we had an in-depth conversation with 28 Albertans over the course of several months on two topics that were top of mind to Alberta Health (government ministry responsible for health).
MyHealth Record
The Government of Alberta has recently launched a new portal that makes it possible for Albertans to access some of our health information online. This is a first important step toward making our complete health record a tool for us to use to ensure our care is seamless and effective.
Building networks and hearing from Albertans – IMAGINE Citizens 2018 year in review
Four years ago, the grassroots movement that became IMAGINE Citizens was born with Friday morning meetings at the O’Brien Institute for Health at the University of Calgary involving a small group of people passionate about health and health care. This past year has been one of our busiest. Here is recap of IMAGINE Citizen’s accomplishments throughout 2018.
Connect Care welcomes input from IMAGINE Citizens
Connect Care is a new clinical information system being designed to link Alberta Health Services facilities, programs and services. Learn more about this collaborative effort being
Networking in Medicine Hat – health and health-care matters
IMAGINE Citizens kicked off our Fall 2018 engagement activities on October 27 with a networking event at the Medicine Hat College, attended by a small and
How personalizing health systems adds value for citizens
EDITOR’S NOTE: SCAN Health is a partner of IMAGINE Citizens. It is dedicated to advancing health systems to achieve the best possible experiences and outcomes
An appeal from someone living with dementia
Editor’s Note: Jim Mann is a person living with a diagnosis of dementia. He is a member of VOICES – a citizen committee that is
Initiative will ease patients’ return home
The Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI) is launching a 17-month collaborative to improve patient and caregiver experiences during transitions from hospital to home.
Online tool will show you Alberta’s health-care basics
If health knowledge is health power, then a new information program created by citizens and health providers is giving Albertans a valuable new tool.
Falling through the Cracks: Greg’s Story
My brother Greg Price died after delayed diagnosis and treatment related to testicular cancer. He was young, athletic, intelligent, and an advocate for himself. Despite
Fit for Purpose? Do these Canada-wide health organizations do what they were intended to do?
The federal minister of Health asked two prominent Canadian health leaders in late 2017 to review seven federally funded agencies designed to improve health and
Making Connections and Building Momentum for Improving Health Care in Alberta
Improving health care is more effective when citizens act together. IMAGINE’s April networking event in Calgary aimed at increasing collaboration. Over 40 people learned of
Albertans influence the direction of primary healthcare in our province
In 2017, IMAGINE recruited 28 Albertans from across the province to be part of a unique and important Citizen Dialogue about the future of primary
Citizens for Digital Health
IMAGINE is excited to launch a new project called Citizens for Digital Health. Through this initiative, we will connect citizens with digital health innovators. Canada
Healthcare 101
Last year, IMAGINE Citizens Collaborating for Health and our partners saw a need to build an introduction course for Albertans to help us all to
HQCA Launches new online interactive tool
IMAGINE is committed to gathering information and experiences from a variety of sources and sharing that information with Albertans so we can all make informed decisions.
The Better Together campaign’s first anniversary!
A policy that could revolutionize the relationship between healthcare providers, patients and family members is taking hold in Canada. The results have come not from
A Patient’s Story: Family is waaaay more than a visitor
My brother Greg died on May 19, 2012. Since his death my family has been advocating for constructive, positive change in our health system hoping
Alberta invests 400 M in Clinical Information System
Have you ever been frustrated when a doctor you were seeing didn’t seem to have all the information he/she needed about your history? The Alberta
Surely we can do better – room for improvement in continuity of health care
Health Quality Council releases new report Imagine being able to sit down at your computer and see your own health record – to check on
Six common themes from six regional meetings
Over the last 4 months IMAGINE held six regional meetings across the province. We would like to sincerely thank everyone who joined us and shared
Transforming Primary Care
For most people, primary care is the first place they go for health care. In addition to individual family practices, more than 40 Primary Care
Using the H-CAHPS survey to ‘measure’ hospital inpatient experience in Alberta
IMAGINE is committed to working with our health system partners towards improved patient experience and outcomes. It is important for us to understand what strategies
IMAGINE turns 1!
One year ago today, a group of like-minded patient, family and citizen champions partnered with the O’Brien Institute for Public Health to host a forum
The Better Together Campaign: Because families are more than visitors – they are partners in care
We are excited to announce that IMAGINE Citizens Collaborating for Health has signed on as an endorsing organization for the Better Together campaign. The Canadian
Greg Price’s Family Receives Patient Safety Award from the Canadian Patient Safety Institute
The Price Family has worked so selflessly to ensure other families do not experience a tragic loss such as they did when their son and
Patients, the Right Medicine for Health Care
Patients have known for a long time the healthcare system could be doing more to address their fears, concerns and needs. Now, a federal investigation into the state of the Canadian healthcare system has given weighty validity to those concerns.
HQCA stands behind IMAGINE
An influential arms-length health organization in the province has placed its support squarely behind the citizen-driven, patient-focused IMAGINE Project.
Focusing on a health care culture where patients come first
The Alberta health-care system includes extraordinary talent and forward-thinking initiatives. But it is also faced with challenges to patient safety, frequent patient dissatisfaction, and a culture that can struggle with always putting the patient first.
