Extended Description
A User Guide Created by Patients for Patients
What if we could find out from experienced users where and how to secure the health care we need, when we need it, for ourselves and our loved ones? What if patients could not only access the most up-to-date information, but also share their hard-earned wisdom with others? What if Canadians on one side of the country could compare their experiences with other patients and find out what is working for patients in different communities? This resource is a Patient User Guide designed by patients for patients so that they can successfully navigate the Canadian health care system.
- Information is only as good as the people that provide it. Patients who have had first-hand experience of the system can best help other patients understand how the system actually works.
- People with real experience and knowledge of using the system know how to get the best care.
- Patients understand the challenges of the healthcare system and can help others with those challenges.
Through the User Guide, patients will be able to share their experiences with each other, pass on tips about good practices, and in general help each other navigate the system more effectively. As patients, our knowledge has been hard-earned. Knowing what we know, we want to help others.
Navigating Canada’s Health Care: A User Guide to Getting the Care You Need, by Michael Decter and Francesca Grosso, is a recent book for patients and their families. The two authors and Penguin Canada have very generously allowed us to use some of the material to being seeding the guide.
The Canadian health care system is complex and often daunting to navigate. However, that complexity is unavoidable, and even necessary, because the health system does so much, and does so many different things, for so many millions of Canadians ‒ from beginning of life until end of life care, and everything in between.
People are complex. Systems are complex. Health is complex. A User Guide should reflect that complexity.
The Patients Association of Canada is a patient-led, patient-governed organization with close to a thousand members and growing every day and is uniquely positioned to create the appropriate online forum for patients to help patients.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this User Guide is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by designated site administrators, members of the Patients’ Association of Canada (PAC) and visitors of the Patients’ Association of Canada (PAC) website. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the User Guide or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the User Guide for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profit arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this User Guide.
Through this User Guide you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of the Patients’ Association of Canada (PAC). We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, the Patients’ Association of Canada (PAC) takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the User Guide being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.