Latest news with #MarciaAnderson
Winnipeg Free Press
18-06-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Province, nurses must take charge after study finds racism exists in Winnipeg ERs
Opinion If you want to know why we never seem to make progress in battling systemic racism, events this week provide some compelling answers. On Tuesday, a landmark study by Shared Health showed adult African/Black and Indigenous patients wait longer for treatment in Winnipeg emergency rooms than patients of other races and ethnicities. Black patients waited the longest on average at Shared Health-run Health Sciences Centre (5.5 hours) and Indigenous patients waited the second longest (5.3 hours). White patients, as a point of comparison, on average waited 4.1 hours, a full hour less. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES Dr. Marcia Anderson led the race-based ER data project on behalf of Shared Health. As well, 36.5 per cent of adult Indigenous patients, and 30.4 per cent of African/Black patients left the HSC ER without having been examined or treated. About 20 per cent of white patients left before being seen. The report was prepared by Shared Health in collaboration with the University of Manitoba's Ongomiizwin Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, and the George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation. It was based on analysis of more than 600,000 patients who agreed to self-identify their race and ethnicity. The findings are not necessarily seismic in their essence; research into the racial bias in the health-care system has been going on for decades. This is, however, one of the most precise studies of its kind. Report author Dr. Marcia Anderson correctly noted the report contains 'hard truths.' Although not mentioned in the report, among those hard truths is the undeniable fact that the health-care system is horrible at responding to the issue of systemic racism. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara greeted the report with a recommendation that all emergency department staff undergo cultural safety and anti-racism training. However, the minister declined to say which training, when it would start and did not indicate whether the affected personnel would be allowed to undertake it during normal working hours. That drew immediate criticism from the Manitoba Nurses Union. MNU president Darlene Jackson said the collective agreement clearly says that nurses must be given time off from normal duties to undergo any required educational programming. Jackson warned that because Asagwara's comments were only a recommendation, there is an implication the nurses should do the training on their own time. She said she was concerned about consequences for those who don't. If we take a hard look at what both Asagwara and Jackson are saying, a rather unflattering picture comes into focus. If the minister takes no issue with the findings, and agrees that the issue is fundamentally important, then why wasn't more done to formulate an actual plan to address gaps in anti-racism training? And why wouldn't Asagwara make this kind of training mandatory, even if the fine details of delivering it have yet to be worked out? It should be said that 'how' and 'when' and 'paid for by whom' are all good questions. However, Jackson and the MNU need to ensure their concerns do not obscure their commitment to combating systemic racism. Right now, the union has created the impression it is only interested in building a list of reasons why they shouldn't get involved. If, for example, the collective agreement guarantees that nurses would be paid to undertake any compulsory training, Overall, it's a bad look for a health-care system that had the courage to, at the very least, dig into patient data to uncover the hard truths. But the mad dash for details, and lack of any sense of collaboration between the province, the health authorities and groups like the MNU, makes everyone look rather incompetent. There is also a renewed concern about whether this is just another provincial directive unleashed upon nurses without adequate negotiation. The former Progressive Conservative government rattled the very foundations of Winnipeg's hospital system by force-feeding nurses a major restructuring of emergency rooms and specialty surgical programs. Apparently unaware, or unconcerned, that nurses had fought long and hard to have some control over where and when they worked, the PC government changed the entire structure of Winnipeg's hospital network. Nurses that had worked in departments and programs in hospitals for years were suddenly told they were relocating. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. Nurses at suburban hospitals were suddenly faced with the prospect of moving to one of the larger, core-area hospitals. Carefully structured family lives were thrown into chaos. Not surprising, then, that the nurses refused to get with the Tory program. Older nurses retired early; younger nurses fled the public system for private nursing agencies where they were paid better and had total control over where and when they worked. The same agencies that provide staff back to an understaffed public system at a premium rate. Premier Wab Kinew and his health minister have repeatedly promised they would manage health care differently. Although more details need to come out, the haphazard response to the issue of systemic racism and the conflict with the MNU suggest the New Democrats may be repeating tragic history. The province and its unions have acknowledged that this is a real and important issue. What Manitobans need now is someone to take charge and show real progress, not just acknowledgement. Dan LettColumnist Dan Lett is a columnist for the Free Press, providing opinion and commentary on politics in Winnipeg and beyond. Born and raised in Toronto, Dan joined the Free Press in 1986. Read more about Dan. Dan's columns are built on facts and reactions, but offer his personal views through arguments and analysis. The Free Press' editing team reviews Dan's columns before they are posted online or published in print — part of the our tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Global News
18-06-2025
- Health
- Global News
Indigenous, Black patients waiting longer to be seen in Winnipeg ERs: report
Race-based data collected in Manitoba's health-care systems suggests Indigenous, African and Black patients are waiting longer in Winnipeg emergency rooms and often leave without seeing a doctor. A report examining visits to emergency rooms and broken down by race says African and Black patients are triaged at the same rate as other racial groups, but are waiting the longest, upwards of five hours in some cases. It also says Indigenous patients are visiting hospitals for similar triage reasons compared with white patients, countering the idea that Indigenous people are using emergency departments inappropriately. Manitoba says it is the first in Canada to collect voluntary race-based data from patients when they register for care as a way to reduce systemic racism within the health-care system. The report looked at the more than 618,000 emergency room visits that occurred between May 2023 and September 2024. Story continues below advertisement Project lead Dr. Marcia Anderson says the initial analysis shows that racism can be a factor affecting wait times and care provided by Manitoba's emergency departments. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Emergency departments are very stressful environments, and the health system is facing many challenges in these areas,' Anderson told reporters Tuesday. 'Unfortunately, in a system under stress, it is often those who are the most marginalized and who have the fewest resources to draw on who face the most severe impacts.' The report says the vast majority of people who leave against medical advice are Indigenous, accounting for almost two-thirds of all patients who do. More is needed to offer a positive therapeutic environment so patients don't feel the need to leave, said Anderson. It also finds that it is likely Indigenous, African and Black patients who are systemically receiving lower triage scores than white people, suggesting that their concerns may not be taken seriously by hospital staff. Researchers were unable to give an analysis on all populations because for some, like Latin American and Filipino people, the data set was too small. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said the initial data shows Indigenous, Black and racialized people experience some level of systemic discrimination. 'We have real data that tells a story about what's happening in our health-care system,' said Asagwara. Story continues below advertisement 'It's an incredible opportunity that we have in Manitoba to be a leader in this space and to really work together to improve the health outcomes and health care experiences for Manitobans.' The data was collected by Shared Health, the provincial health organization, as part of an initiative led by Ongomiizwin, the Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing at the University of Manitoba.
Winnipeg Free Press
17-06-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Indigenous, Black patients waiting longer to be seen in Winnipeg ERs: report
WINNIPEG – Race-based data collected in Manitoba's health-care systems suggests Indigenous, African and Black patients are waiting longer in Winnipeg emergency rooms and often leave without seeing a doctor. A report examining visits to emergency rooms and broken down by race says African and Black patients are triaged at the same rate as other racial groups, but are waiting the longest, upwards of five hours in some cases. It also says Indigenous patients are visiting hospitals for similar triage reasons compared with white patients, countering the idea that Indigenous people are using emergency departments inappropriately. Manitoba says it is the first in Canada to collect voluntary race-based data from patients when they register for care as a way to reduce systemic racism within the health-care system. The report looked at the more than 618,000 emergency room visits that occurred between May 2023 and September 2024. Project lead Dr. Marcia Anderson says the initial analysis shows that racism can be a factor affecting wait times and care provided by Manitoba's emergency departments. 'Emergency departments are very stressful environments, and the health system is facing many challenges in these areas,' Anderson told reporters Tuesday. 'Unfortunately, in a system under stress, it is often those who are the most marginalized and who have the fewest resources to draw on who face the most severe impacts.' The report says the vast majority of people who leave against medical advice are Indigenous, accounting for almost two-thirds of all patients who do. More is needed to offer a positive therapeutic environment so patients don't feel the need to leave, said Anderson. It also finds that it is likely Indigenous, African and Black patients who are systemically receiving lower triage scores than white people, suggesting that their concerns may not be taken seriously by hospital staff. Researchers were unable to give an analysis on all populations because for some, like Latin American and Filipino people, the data set was too small. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said the initial data shows Indigenous, Black and racialized people experience some level of systemic discrimination. 'We have real data that tells a story about what's happening in our health-care system,' said Asagwara. 'It's an incredible opportunity that we have in Manitoba to be a leader in this space and to really work together to improve the health outcomes and health care experiences for Manitobans.' The data was collected by Shared Health, the provincial health organization, as part of an initiative led by Ongomiizwin, the Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing at the University of Manitoba. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
17-06-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Indigenous, Black patients waiting longer to be seen in hospital
A preliminary analysis of race-based data collected from patients shows racism can be a factor affecting wait times and care provided in Manitoba emergency departments, the project's lead said Tuesday. Manitoba hospitals became the first in Canada to collect data about patients' race on May 11, 2023. Patients at hospitals and health centres were asked during registration if they wanted to declare their race. The information is voluntary. A report shows Indigenous and Black patients are waiting the longest to be seen, a pattern similar to other findings. 'Unfortunately, in a system under stress, it is often those who are the most marginalized and have the fewest resources who are impacted the most,' Dr. Marcia Anderson said in a Shared Health news release. 'While this might come as no surprise, the collection of this data is critical for accurately measuring and demonstrating specific health disparities.' Anderson also said Indigenous patients attend emergency departments with similar triage scores as white patients. A 'harmful narrative' that Indigenous people 'overuse' emergency departments and use them 'inappropriately' is not supported by data, she said. The news release was sent around the same time as Anderson held a news conference alongside Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara. 'The findings of this data are, unfortunately, not unique to Manitoba. The systemic failure to provide adequate care to an increasingly racially diverse population is a national issue, but our government is committed to addressing these gaps within our system,' Asagwara said in the release. The initiative is a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action #19, which calls on governments to identify and close the gaps in health-care outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. A steering committee is helping design steps to eliminate racism in the health-case system. The data was collected by Shared Health in collaboration with the University of Manitoba's Ongomiizwin Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing and the U of M's George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation. fpcity@
