Working Towards a Better Health and Social Care System in NL
October 20 is World Evidence-Based Health Care (EBHC) Day, a global initiative that raises awareness of the need for better evidence to inform health care policy, practice and decision-making in order to improve health outcomes globally (https://worldebhcday.org/about-world-ebhc-day).
The work of Quality of Care NL is focused on evidence-based health care research. It uses strategies such as data interpretation, knowledge translation, public engagement and solutions implementation in order to improve social and health outcomes in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL).
Together, Quality of Care NL and NL SUPPORT operate on the principles of a learning health and social system. Continuously improving through a culture of best practice, evaluation, equity, openness and collaboration, the system learns and gets better, resulting in better care and health for all.
A learning health and social system uses evidence and engages the community as partners to inform and improve policy, practice and outcomes.
Check out the infographic below for a quick picture of what a learning health and social system is and what the benefits are.
Want to know more? Read the full article that this infographic is based on on page 6 of Practice Points Volume 10.
One of the benefits of a learning health and social system is the advancement of health equity. Health equity is achieved when all people, no matter their race, gender, socio-demographic characteristics, etc., have the fair opportunity to achieve their fullest health potential (Public Health Ontario). This also includes removing unfair systems and policies that cause health inequalities (Government of Canada).
The campaign for World EBHC Day 2023 is centered on Evidence and Global Health Equity, noting that evidence is a prerequisite for achieving global health equity. Equitable health policies, systems and services are all dependent on functioning evidence ecosystems, which is the key component of a learning health and social system.
To learn more about a learning health and social system in NL, please visit https://nlsupport.ca/about/learning-health-and-social-system/.
More information on #WorldEBHCDay and the role of evidence in health equity is available at https://worldebhcday.org/.
