Overview
Building trusting, accountable, and culturally safe processes to address patient complaints is critical to the health and well-being of First Nation, Métis and Inuit patients across the province.
The Indigenous Patient Safety Investigator and Advocate supports First Nation, Métis and Inuit patients address their concerns about health care services by:
- listening to the concerns of First Nation, Métis and Inuit patients and their families and supporting them to find ways to resolve concerns in culturally safe and appropriate ways
- ensuring complaints of racism or experiences of mistreatment are appropriately addressed
- building trusting relationships with First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities and working to include First Nation, Métis and Inuit worldviews into the concerns and complaints process
- working with Elders and Knowledge Keepers to provide spiritual and cultural supports during the complaints process
- providing advice and recommendations to Alberta’s government and professional organizations to improve health care of First Nation, Métis and Inuit in Alberta
Indigenous Patient Safety Investigator and Advocate role
Assist
Racism and the mistreatment of First Nation, Métis and Inuit patients when accessing health care is a critical issue in Alberta. Unfair treatment, incidents of racism, lack of cultural safety and cultural misunderstanding during the delivery of health care, can have immeasurable impact on health outcomes of First Nation, Métis and Inuit individuals and communities.
The Indigenous Patient Safety Investigator and Advocate will proactively work to understand your situation, develop a plan of action, and provide support to address your concerns.
The Indigenous Patient Safety Investigator and Advocate aims to use every interaction between health care services and First Nation, Métis and Inuit patients as an opportunity to improve understanding of culturally appropriate and safe health services, and responsibilities and expectations with the system.
Review
The Alberta Health Charter sets out the expectations for interactions among patients, health care providers and health service organizations. In cases where no other dispute resolution process exists, the Indigenous Patient Safety Investigator and Advocate has a delegated authority to carry out a review, with or without a complaint, into situations where someone is believed to have failed to act in a manner consistent with the Alberta Health Charter.
Working with communities
The Indigenous Patient Safety Investigator and Advocate will build partnerships with First Nation, Métis and Inuit representatives and leaders to ensure the effective delivery of programs and services. This collaboration will advocate for the inclusion of First Nation, Métis and Inuit knowledge and perspectives in how concerns are managed, patient safety is improved, and health-related policies are developed.
Working with Indigenous communities and through the Office of the Alberta Health Advocates, the Indigenous Patient Safety Investigator and Advocate will facilitate connections to Elders, Knowledge Keepers and Knowledge Holders throughout Alberta to provide spiritual and cultural supports to First Nation, Métis and Inuit patients as they navigate through the complaints resolution process.
Systems
The Indigenous Patient Safety Investigator and Advocate will generate recommendations and provide advice to Alberta’s government and authorities responsible for health care services. Identifying continuous learning opportunities and contributing to a health system that is inclusive of the principles of cultural safety, Indigenous cultural teachings and anti-racism, is a key priority for this role.
Restrictions
The Indigenous Patient Safety Investigator and Advocate cannot:
- represent an individual at court or tribunals
- reverse a clinical or administrative decision
- take disciplinary action against any health service provider
- order any fines or other penalties
- investigate complaints involving federal or municipal governments, police, universities, schools or other non-health related companies
Indigenous Patient Safety Investigator and Advocate’s biography
Tony Cardinal
Born in Edmonton, and a member of the Goodfish Lake Cree Nation, Tony Cardinal began his life’s work as a respite worker for various foster homes. During the last 30 years, his commitment to improving the lives of children in care led him to a range of influential positions in which he established strong collaborative relationships with Elders, community leaders, health advocates and Indigenous-serving organizations. As he recently relocated to Edmonton, Tony is currently looking for the perfect fishing spot.
Contact
To connect with the Indigenous Patient Safety Investigator and Advocate,:
Contact the Health Advocates
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-422-1812
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Fax: 780-422-0695
Email: [email protected]
Address:
Office of the Alberta Health Advocates
106th Street Tower – 9th Floor
10055 106 Street
Edmonton AB. T5J 2Y2