Canada's Minister of Health gets a healthy dose of hope and happiness

Saint Elizabeth CEO Shirlee Sharkey takes Minister Philpott on a tour of the organization's innovative showcase space. (photo: Vito Amati) (CNW Group/Saint Elizabeth Health Care)

Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott participates in a roundtable discussion on home care with staff, patients and families (photo: Vito Amati) (CNW Group/Saint Elizabeth Health Care)

MARKHAM, ON, April 11, 2017 /CNW/ - The Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, today visited Saint Elizabeth's corporate office in Markham, Ontario, touring the company's unique 'hope and happiness showcase' and meeting with health care staff, patients and family caregivers.

Led by Saint Elizabeth CEO Shirlee Sharkey, the visit highlighted the important role of home care and social innovation in Canada's health system.

"It was a tremendous honour to host Minister Philpott – her passion for innovation, thoughtful approach and deep commitment to improving care for people and families is clearly evident," said Shirlee Sharkey, CEO of Saint Elizabeth. "We applaud the federal government for taking bold action to strengthen health care through targeted investments in home care, palliative care and support for family caregivers."

"I was pleased to visit Saint Elizabeth today and to engage with providers and patients who know first-hand the value of providing health services that allow Canadians to live independently. By improving home care, including home-based palliative care, we can help modernize our care system so that it can better meet the needs of Canadians. I am proud to be part of a government that is working to provide better health care, not only for aging Canadians but for all Canadians as well," said Minister Philpott.

During a private roundtable, staff, patients and family caregivers spoke to the Minister about new approaches to care at home including:

• The use of Intelligent Care™ to deliver greater patient engagement and meaningful interactions with an empowered practice team
• New ways to educate and support health care providers, from formal career training to continuing education, skills development, mobile learning and knowledge exchange
• Saint Elizabeth's groundbreaking work and community benefit investments to improve access to end of life care

Since it opened in 2016, Saint Elizabeth's 'hope and happiness showcase' has attracted health care leaders, students and innovators from across Canada as well as the United States, the Netherlands, Norway, the Middle East and Australia.

About Saint Elizabeth
Saint Elizabeth is a diversified health care company that has been opening the door to new possibilities and care experiences for more than a century. Recognized as Canada's largest social enterprise, the not-for-profit organization employs 8,000 people and visits 19,000 clients a day, totalling 50 million visits in the past decade alone. Through its Research Centre, Health Career Colleges and Foundation, Saint Elizabeth is helping to make the future of health care brighter and stronger. saintelizabeth.com 

SOURCE Saint Elizabeth Health Care

Media Contact: Madonna Gallo, 905-968-6430, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.saintelizabeth.com/