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FIQ (Fédération Interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec)

Healthcare professional-to-patient ratios pilot project: The FIQ-SISSAT is proud of the work accomplished

Healthcare professional-to-patient ratios pilot project: The FIQ-SISSAT is proud of the work accomplished

The FIQ–Syndicat interprofessionnel en soins de santé de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue (FIQ-SISSAT) gave a positive progress report on the healthcare professional-to-patient ratios pilot project implemented in the surgery centre of activities in Amos on September 24 last and the project continues today.

Nursing staff had to be added before starting the nursing ratios project on the surgery unit. The healthcare professionals in the field were also solicited to get actively involved in collecting data and searching for solutions. The analysis of this data qualified and quantified the impact of ratios on the healthcare professionals and the quality and safety of the care delivered.

The FIQ’s objective is for safe ratios to be implemented in all institutions across Québec. For the Federation, a law on safe ratios is the best way to achieve this result and offer quality, humane care as well as the best working conditions for the healthcare professionals. The funding of these projects still remains uncertain and renewal is unpredictable.

A few findings after about twenty weeks

  • Improvement in care continuity
  • Lighter care activities for the professionals
  • Increase in the time spent with patients; active listening
  • Patient teaching to the professional’s satisfaction
  • More complete nursing notes
  • Improved quality of care
  • More pleasant work climate
  • Development of the licensed practical nurse’s scope of practice
  • Better collaboration between different job titles

What happens next?

Encouraged by the project results in Québec and the one in Amos, the elected union officers intend to go to the regional MNA’s meeting to demonstrate the pertinence of this structural solution for offering quality, safe care. They said they were particularly eager to meet the regional minister Mr. Pierre Dufour. In fact, during the last provincial electoral campaign, the CAQ ambitiously committed to quality, safe care, but they have not yet presented a plan to achieve this. What’s worse, there is once again the question of budget cuts in Health according to the PED of the CISSS-AT.

“We have to know the regional minister’s position on the situation in the region where there are fewer healthcare professionals for the patients that the Ministry of Health sets as the norm! Do the elected officials agree with this? We will shed light on this for the good of our members and the population” explained the president of the FIQ-SISSAT, Michael Bouchard.

“While waiting for the CAQ to take action, our members are overwhelmed by mandatory overtime while they were promised an end to it and the quality of care continues to decline”, concluded Mr. Bouchard.


Crédit photo : Audrey Folliot