Action, Accountability and Transparency for Indigenous Health Systems Safety

Richard T Oster; Pamela Roach; Fiona Clement; Esther Tailfeathers; Bonnie Healy; Lori Meckelborg; Joanna Gladue; Patrick McLane

doi:10.12927/hcpap.2023.27108

Action, Accountability and Transparency for Indigenous Health Systems Safety

Healthc Pap. 2023 Apr;21(2):28-34. doi: 10.12927/hcpap.2023.27108.

Authors

Richard T Oster¹, Pamela Roach², Fiona Clement³, Esther Tailfeathers⁴, Bonnie Healy⁵, Lori Meckelborg⁶, Joanna Gladue⁷, Patrick McLane⁸

Affiliations

¹ Scientific Director, Indigenous Wellness Core, Alberta Health Services, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Alberta, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Faculty of Community Health Sciences, Cummings School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Edmonton, AB.
² Assistant Professor and Director of Indigenous Health Education, Department of Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
³ Professor and Department Head, Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
⁴ Senior Medical Director, Indigenous Wellness Core, Alberta Health Services, Kainai Nation, AB.
⁵ Health Director, Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council Kainai Nation, Stand Off, AB.
⁶ Director of Performance, Impact and Measurement, Indigenous Wellness Core, Alberta Health Services, Airdrie, AB.
⁷ Health Promotion Facilitator, Indigenous Wellness Core, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB.
⁸ Assistant Scientific Director, Emergency Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.

PMID: 37417347
DOI: 10.12927/hcpap.2023.27108

Abstract

Anti-Indigenous racism is prevalent in Canada, especially within healthcare systems. Consequences are catastrophic, including deaths of Indigenous patients. Systems change and critical education guided by the Indigenous Peoples and research into how racism operates within healthcare settings are needed. In Alberta, promising initiatives are under way, including a First Nations-led initiative identifying racism and colonialism as key health determinants, novel experiential education, transformative education for senior health leaders and reframing health system measures to reflect Indigenous Peoples' perspectives. The time is now for comprehensive action toward eliminating racism within healthcare systems and fostering Indigenous health systems safety. Indigenous lives depend on it.

MeSH terms

Alberta
Canada
Delivery of Health Care*
Humans
Indigenous Peoples
Racism*
Social Responsibility