Media Advisory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Below are highlights from the May/June issue of Paediatrics & Child Health, the journal of the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS), which is published 10 times a year and reaches 15,500 paediatricians, family doctors and other child health care providers. The studies cited here do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the CPS.Provinces must act quickly to address paediatric health care crisis: CPS
The Canadian Paediatric Society wants provinces and territories to better plan the health care of children and youth, and it’s released a set of guidelines to help them get there. With children’s health care approaching a crisis level–there are neither enough primary care providers nor enough paediatricians to meet the needs of Canadian kids–provinces and territories urgently need to develop human resource plans. The situation is especially critical for children with special needs, mental health problems, or chronic health conditions. But just as the population of each jurisdiction differs, so do the health care needs of its children and youth. Provincial/territorial health care planners must work with paediatric leadership to determine the best model of care for the children and youth in their areas. A Model of Paediatrics: Rethinking health care for children and youth is a new statement by the CPS that details all the elements that need to be considered in planning, from acute and chronic care to ensuring quality care.
Vulnerable and marginalized children: Who are they and how can we help?
Who are Canada’s vulnerable and marginalized children and youth? They are children largely born into poverty and income disparity. Paediatricians must understand the link between social context and health to be able to work with behaviourally, culturally and socio-economically diverse populations. The author says that paediatricians will require an entirely new set of skills to address child health in Canada, including the ability to advocate for the health status of entire communities.
Child and youth mental health: Integrated health care using contemporary competency-based teams
Traditional mental health services for children and youth are no longer the best way. Primary care teams, rather than specialized mental health professionals, are in a better position to provide early, effective, efficient and optimal recovery-based care. The author calls for a framework where children and youth receive care tailored to their specific needs within their own communities.
Child and youth health and human resources
Many different human resources support the health and development of children: early child care, education, social services and health care. While many provinces are increasing their commitment to collaborative efforts to support children and youth, the author says these efforts must be reinforced by federal government action. The article calls for a change from specialty hospital care to coordinated care that supports a child across the span of their growth and development.
To view these and other articles from this issue, or to arrange an interview, contact:
Communications Coordinator
Canadian Paediatric Society
613-526-9397, ext. 247
media@cps.ca