Albertans are uniquely positioned financially with vast natural resources and a robust economy. Albertans are also an innovative people willing to examine new ways to achieve goals and deliver services. For example, Alberta is the only province that has Charter School legislation that creates fully funded public schools that operate along side regular public schools. Alberta’s charter schools have been agents of change to improve the quality of education across Alberta. Alberta is now considered to have one of the best educational systems in Canada. CQH believes that similar innovations could benefit the health care system.
While Albertans spend more on health than any other province in Canada, Albertans are also motivated to be fiscally prudent and are interested in ideas that can lower the costs of providing services, yet will maintain or enhance the quality of service. Albertans are well aware that the time will come when resources such as oil and gas will be depleted. Also, Albertans are among some of the most highly educated people in the world, which helps to create a culture of thinking people who have the talent and ability to introduce changes that could be more difficult in some other parts of the world.
CQH believes that ordinary citizens, informed by experts from many diverse fields, including those outside the health professions such as customer service experts, can find superior, yet cost-effective, solutions that will improve the health of Albertans. For example, it has been found that improved nutrition increases recovery rates and lowers hospital stays significantly.[1] Many citizens are more satisfied with health care systems that integrate medical doctors with naturopaths, chiropractors, massage therapists and other specialized health services.
CQH intends to acquire world class ideas and insight into the best ways to improve and restore health and is confident it will be able to influence the government, medical and other health care professions, health regions, universities, clinics and hospitals which ultimately direct the delivery of health care.
[1] Neumayer LA. "Early and sufficient feeding reduces length of stay and charges in surgical patients." The Journal of Surgical Research 95.1 (2001):73-7