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By rdnewsNOW Staff

TONY CARDINAL

Alberta hires Indigenous patient advocate to address unfair treatment in health care settings

Dec 13, 2024 | 12:23 PM

The Government of Alberta has hired an Indigenous Patient Safety Investigator and Advocate in an effort to improve health care delivery and outcomes for First Nations, Métis and Inuit patients.

Alberta representatives say unfair treatment due to incidents of racism during health care delivery and a lack of cultural safety can impact health outcomes in these patients with unique and diverse health needs. In an effort to address this, Tony Cardinal has been hired as the province’s first Indigenous Patient Safety Investigator and Advocate, in partnership with the Office of Alberta Health Advocates.

“Tansi – As an Indigenous man from Goodfish Lake Cree Nation, I deeply understand the challenges of sharing my story without prejudice. My hope is to create a safe and inclusive space for open dialogue, free from bias and discrimination, where each Indigenous voice is valued and truly heard. Building genuine connections is the essential foundation to achieve our shared goals and bring about meaningful change in the health system,” said Cardinal.

He is a member of Goodfish Lake Cree Nation and has more than 30 years of experience in supporting the care and well-being of Indigenous peoples. He is to work out of the Office of Alberta Health Advocates and will lead investigators, make recommendations to improve experiences, help First Nations, Métis and Inuit patients address concerns by providing culturally safe support, navigation, education and information throughout the patient complaint process.

“The appointment of an Indigenous Patient Safety Investigator and Advocate is a significant step towards ensuring Indigenous patients have the support they need to advocate for themselves,” commented Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations. “It is crucial that their unique needs are met in a culturally appropriate manner, and having a dedicated advocate will help achieve this goal.”

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While the government did not address the incident in this announcement, in May this year, an Indigenous man staying in the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton had his braids cut off and discarded in the garbage without his consent, along with an eagle feather and bear grease, his wife reported. All of these items held cultural and spiritual significance for the individual.

“There is no place for discrimination in Alberta’s health care system. Indigenous patients deserve an advocate who has their best interests at heart and can provide safety and guidance to ensure Alberta’s health care system is fair and accountable for all Albertans,” said minister of health, Adriana LaGrange, in the announcement of the new role.

The government hopes that through education and public awareness, this new role will advance the understanding and implementation of the Alberta Health Charter and improve the delivery of culturally safe and appropriate health services.

“It can be difficult and retraumatizing for Indigenous patients to raise issues of discrimination,” commented Catherine Douglas, a health and mental health patient advocate. “Within our patient-centered approach, the Indigenous advocate will make it easier for patients to share concerns, resulting in a better experience, a timelier response and improved outcomes for patients.”

Cardinal will be responsible for ensuring any Indigenous health-related complaints of racism or experiences of mistreatment are addressed through the appropriate channels, and Indigenous patients and their families receive supports in a culturally safe and appropriate way.

Establishing this role was a recommendation put forward by the Modernizing Primary Health Care (MAPS) Indigenous Advisory Panel, officials say. The recommendations of the panel resulted in an implementation plan called The Way Forward, which outlines short- and long-term actions to help deliver access to culturally safe care and improve health outcomes for Indigenous peoples.

The Office of the Alberta Health Advocates was created to represent the voices of patients and advocates in the ongoing development of the province’s health care system, and the roles and responsibilities of patients and providers under Alberta’s Health Charter, which includes a commitment to ensure all patients are treated with dignity and respect.

The Office of the Alberta Health Advocates is available to assist all Albertans at no cost. The advocates can be reached by calling 780-422-1812, or by submitting a concern online.