The HQ

HIP Week 2025 Special Re-Release: Role of Health Information & its Impact on People & Health Human Resources

In celebration of #HIPWeek2025, we’re revisiting one of our most insightful conversations from The HQ Podcast archives — featuring Monique Rasmussen, Regional Director, Coding & Informatics at Providence Health. Originally released in 2022, this special re-release highlights timeless lessons in health information, leadership, and its impact of health human resources. If this episode has inspired you to learn more about the world of health information, visit chalearning.ca [https://chalearning.ca] to explore CHA Learning’s flexible online programs—designed to help you gain the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in this essential field. --- The data collected and stored in our personal health records is one of the most valuable assets within healthcare. This data is used to improve the quality and safety of care, conduct clinical research, evaluate medical treatments and technologies, and guide public health decision-making and funding allocations.  Who are the health professionals responsible for collecting and managing this data? How does this in turn become “health information” and why should we care more about its quality? And with the increased use of technology, how is the privacy, security, and integrity of this data and information maintained?  To help us answer these questions, we are joined by Monique Rasmussen, Regional Director, Coding & Informatics at Providence Health [https://www.providencehealthcare.org/] in British Columbia. Monique has more than 27 years of Health Information Management experience and is the current Chair of the Board of the Canadian Health Information Management Association.  You can learn more about Health Information Management and our HIM program by visiting our website [https://www.chalearning.ca/programs-and-courses/health-information-management-program/].  Tell Us What You Think We welcome your feedback about the HQ Podcast so we can continuously improve and create episodes that our listeners want to hear. Please take a few moments to fill out our short survey: Click Here [https://response.questback.com/dynamic/healthcarecan/hqpodcast/answer?sid=u6CwcO5biQ&Season%2FEpisode=S1E08] Don't forget to subscribe to The HQ on your favourite podcast player and leave us a review! The HQ is CHA Learning’s/HealthCareCAN’s podcast series where we explore and discuss the topics relevant to healthcare today. The HQ focuses on the people that make up and lead our complex, adaptive system of healthcare. The HQ is your trusted headquarters as, together, we engage with thought-leaders to learn and understand what matters most to those that lead our health workforce. CHA Learning [https://www.chalearning.ca/] | HealthCareCAN [https://www.healthcarecan.ca/]

Addressing Workplace Violence in Healthcare: A Conversation with CAMH’s Myfanwy Marshall

The issues of workplace violence and workforce safety have quickly become among the most important topics we’re having in healthcare today. Every healthcare worker has the right to a safe workplace that is free from violence and other hazards. However, in healthcare, there is a persistent challenge in how to balance this right with the duty to care. Conversations about workplace violence are now front and centre across the whole of our health sector. The question is no longer whether this is an issue, but how healthcare leaders, providers, and policymakers can respond in ways that make a real difference in the safety of our health workplaces. In this episode of The HQ Podcast, we take on this complex and deeply human challenge: how do we build a culture of safety in healthcare that protects staff, patients, and families alike? Joining us is Myfanwy Marshall, Vice President of People and Experience at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). With a career spanning labour law, human resources, and transformational leadership, Myfanwy brings a clear-eyed perspective on the systemic drivers of workplace violence and the practical steps organizations like CAMH are taking to keep people safe. Tune in for this important conversation and come away with a clearer understanding of why this issue matters now, what’s being done to address it, and what it will take to build safer healthcare workplaces for everyone.   About Our Guest Myfanwy Marshall Vice President, People and Experience, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Myfanwy Marshall is Vice President, People and Experience at CAMH. She is a strategic leader with expertise in designing and executing transformation, enriching employee engagement and experience, and ensuring effective delivery of support to employees and leaders within dynamic and complex operating environment in both private and public sectors. Myfanwy has been at CAMH for over eight years – previously serving in the roles of Interim Vice President, People and Experience; Director, People and Legal Counsel; Senior Manager, Human Resources and Labour Relations; and Manager, Labour Relations. Prior to joining CAMH, Myfanwy worked extensively in Labour Relations in large organizations including CN Railway, the Toronto Star, and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Myfanwy is a Labour and Employment Lawyer by training, and holds the Certified Human Resources Professional designation. She is also a committed volunteer in the community, having served on the Boards of Directors of Fred Victor Centre and Dixon Hall.   Key Discussions Defining Workplace Violence What does violence in healthcare include — and what doesn’t it? Why Now? Exploring why the issue has surged in attention across the sector. Reporting and Context How data, reporting, and client populations shape our understanding. System Drivers What forces continue to fuel violence in healthcare workplaces? Safe vs. Safer Is healthcare inherently less safe, or is it time to reject that narrative? Prevention in Action What CAMH is doing: TIDES, training, audits, and workplace violence committees. The Role of Leadership How leaders must engage to protect and support workers.   Helpful Resources CAMH | Website | Click Here [https://www.camh.ca/] Myfanwy Marshall | LinkedIn | Click Here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/myfanwy-marshall-llb-chrp-36946511/] TIDES | Website | Click Here [https://www.camh.ca/en/education/tides]   Tell Us What You Think If this episode sparked ideas or raised questions, we’d love to hear from you. Share your feedback through our short listener survey: Click Here [https://survey.alchemer-ca.com/s3/50224943/ep62] And don’t forget—subscribe to The HQ Podcast on your favourite platform, leave us a review, and share this episode with others in your network.

In Focus: A Panel Discusses How to Talk About Suicide in Healthcare

In this special episode of The HQ Podcast, we explore one of the most difficult—and most important—of healthcare topics: suicide. A conversation about suicide likely seems fraught and fearful to most people. Even health professionals, who may be in some of the best positions to save someone from harm, can struggle with where to begin and what to say. How personal should you be, and how vulnerable can you allow yourself to become? How do you create a safe space for dialogue—and what if you say the wrong thing? Perhaps most daunting of all: what happens when a patient, resident, or client says, “Yes, I am thinking about suicide”? In that moment, what is your shared responsibility to both address suicide and instill hope? To help us explore these questions and more, we’re joined by three remarkable guests who bring both professional expertise and lived experience to this critical conversation. Note to Listeners: This episode is inspired by “Talking About Suicide: Empowering Healthcare Providers, Instilling Hope in Clients [https://chalearning.ca/programs-and-courses/talking-about-suicide/],” a free online micro-learning course developed in partnership between the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) [https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/] and CHA Learning. It is critically important that we have this conversation and learn the skills to do so safely. So please, after you’ve listened to this episode, share it with your colleagues and networks and explore the free “Talking About Suicide” course. By enrolling, and encouraging others to do the same, you can help reduce stigma and strengthen the capacity of healthcare providers to instill hope when it matters most.   About Our Guests Anita David Anita is a Lived Experience Strategic Advisor at BC Mental Health and Co-Chair of the Hallway Group at the Mental Health Commission of Canada. She recently received a King Charles III Coronation Medal for advancing mental health advocacy, education, and research, and fostering strong networks among patients, families and health organizations. Dr. Cheryl Pollard Dr. Cheryl Pollard is a professor in the Faculty of Nursing and a recognized thought leader in healthcare education, innovation, and leadership. Her work centers on promoting mental health and well-being, especially for individuals living with mental illness and their caregivers. Dr. Pollard’s research explores the power of compassionate relationships within learning environments and their impact on education. She was inducted as a Fellow of the National League for Nursing’s Academy of Nursing Education in recognition of her enduring contributions to nursing education. Dr. Allison Crawford Allison Crawford, MD, PhD is the Chief Medical Officer for 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline (www.988.ca [https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.988.ca&c=E,1,WBxyGcnlOcvwHIwicdeZpAdZPPupLfEophtARVcw8OGv2e24iRwv47MmCj80XU30FO-4C1ybAQZCfzgopD99ayf_Zkxt0cpwf4pm_yEupWBKpR37qCk,&typo=1]). She is also a Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto and a psychiatrist and Senior Scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). A key focus of Allison’s work is improving access and equity in mental health care, especially to rural and underserved regions. She has overseen psychiatry services to Nunavut since 2010.   Key Discussions Why We Need This Conversation Why talking about suicide remains one of the most avoided topics in healthcare, and what’s at stake when stigma persists. Understanding Suicide The prevalence, complexity, and deeply personal nature of suicide—and why no one-size-fits-all approach exists. Moving Beyond Fear Exploring the fears healthcare providers carry, and how training and skill-building can replace stigma with confidence. The Role of Lived Experience Why involving people with lived and living experience is essential to creating safe, inclusive, and effective conversations. Building Trust and Hope Practical strategies for having conversations that are safe, empathetic, and respectful—and that inspire hope. Context, Culture & Inequities How context shapes these conversations, the importance of equity, and the systemic changes needed to support suicide prevention. Leadership in Suicide Prevention What healthcare leaders can do to foster safe spaces, empower their teams, and champion suicide prevention at an organizational level.   Helpful Resources Talking About Suicide: Empowering Healthcare Providers, Instilling Hope in Clients (Free Micro Learning Course) | Learn More & Enrol Here [https://chalearning.ca/programs-and-courses/talking-about-suicide/] Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) | Website [https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/] 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline | Website [https://988.ca/]   Tell Us What You Think If this conversation resonated with you, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Share your feedback through our short listener survey: Click Here [https://survey.alchemer-ca.com/s3/50224943/ep62] Don’t forget to subscribe to The HQ Podcast on your favourite platform, leave us a review, and share this episode with others in your network!

HR’s Role as a Strategic Lever in Health Care Transformation: A Panel Discussion

Over the past 5 years in particular, there has been a lot of discussion about human resources, or HR – but what does this include … and what more could it mean? In episode 61 of The HQ Podcast, we explore HR in its capacity to be a strategic lever for transformation in healthcare. Far beyond transactional processes, HR has the power to (re)shape the future of our health systems—especially during times of global and economic uncertainty. Why does HR matter now more than ever? What risks do we face if we undervalue strategic HR leadership? And how can health systems unlock the full potential of their people to drive meaningful change? Joining us to explore these questions—and more—are two expert healthcare HR leaders who are challenging assumptions and advancing innovative approaches to people and culture: Anna Marenick, Vice President of People, Culture and Belonging at Nova Scotia Health, and Sarah Cameron, Chief of People, Strategy and Technology at Covenant Health. Together, they share their insights on what it takes to build a strategic HR backbone, why recruitment alone won’t solve workforce challenges, and how HR must evolve to meet the values and expectations of today’s workforce. From interest-based negotiations to culture change, they discuss what success looks like when HR takes its rightful place as a transformative force in healthcare. Don’t miss this timely, thoughtful conversation about how HR can shape a sustainable and resilient healthcare future. KEY DISCUSSIONS The Business of HR in Healthcare * What distinguishes HR from HHR? * What is HR not, and why is that distinction critical? Why HR Needs to Be More—and Different—in 2025 * How new generations and shifting values are redefining work * Why HR must move beyond transactional functions Building a Strategic HR Backbone * Why recruitment isn’t the only answer * What questions organizations should be asking to drive change Overcoming Barriers to Strategic HR * What prevents healthcare organizations from fully embracing strategic HR? * How can HR leaders better communicate their value and demonstrate ROI? Transformational HR Leadership * Is sector experience essential to lead strategic HR transformation? * How do HR leaders develop the skills to drive innovation and change? What Success Looks Like * Real-world examples of strategic HR approaches making an impact * How interest-based negotiations can advance workforce outcomes Risks of Losing Strategic HR Leadership * What’s at stake for health organizations and the system at large? * Why HR executive roles are critical during economic uncertainty Priorities for Strategic HR Leaders Today * Addressing workplace violence, retention, wellness, and more ABOUT OUR GUESTS Anna Marenick  Vice President of People, Culture and Belonging, Nova Scotia Health  Anna Marenick is a successful human resources and transformational leader with extensive regional and national experience. She has led multi-faceted and complex programs in diverse and challenging environments in both the private and public sector. Anna joined nova Scotia Health in 2021 in the role of Senior Director of Organizational Change Management and later took on the role of interim Senior Director of People Services. Prior to joining Nova Scotia Health, she was the senior director of people and governance at Develop Nova Scotia. Her creative, inclusive approach to solving complex problems in a variety ofsettings makes her exceptional at collaboratively propelling ideas and people forward. She sits on the Board of Directors of Saint Mary’s University and Neptune Theatre. She is also actively involved in the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. Earlier this year, at the Nova Scotia Chartered Professional in HR awards, Anna was presented with theUnion Partnership Award, and the NS Health team was presented with the Team of the Year award. Anna has a Master of Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University and Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) from St. Francis Xavier University. She is also a Prosci Certified Change Management Professional and a Chartered Professional in Human Resources.   Sarah Cameron  Chief of People, Strategy and Technology, Covenant Health  Sarah Cameron is chief of people, strategy and technology at Covenant Health, where she leads human resources, strategic planning, communications, and technology initiatives across the organization. Since joining Covenant Health’s executive team in October 2022, Sarah has brought extensive experience in corporate strategy, organizational development and transformational leadership. Prior to her current role, Sarah served as chief human resources officer for the City of Saskatoon, where she owned her expertise in talent management, leadership development, and driving organizational change at scale. Throughout her career, she has specialized in helping organizations enhance their performance and effectiveness through strategic people-focused initiatives. Sarah is passionate about the power of relationships and collaboration in solving complex challenges and creating meaningful change. She believes in fostering healthy, inclusive work environments that empower teams to deliver their best work in service of the communities they serve.   HELPFUL RESOURCES Anna Marenickt: LinkedIn | Click Here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamarenick/] Sarah Cameron: LinkedIn | Click Here [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-cameron-15b24a42/] Nova Scotia Health | Website | Click here [https://www.nshealth.ca/] Covenant Health | Website | Click Here [https://covenanthealth.ca/] HealthCareCAN’s Health Human Resources Advisory Committee (HHRAC) | Website | Click Here [https://www.healthcarecan.ca/membership/our-hhr-advisory-committee/]   TELL US WHAT YOU THINK If this episode sparked ideas or raised questions, we’d love to hear from you. Please take a moment to share your feedback through our short listener survey: Click Here [https://survey.alchemer-ca.com/s3/50224943/ep61] And don’t forget—subscribe to The HQ Podcast on your favourite platform, leave us a review, and share this episode with others in your network who care about making healthcare more sustainable and future-ready.

Sustainability in Action - Bryan Witt on Leading “Energy and Environmental Sustainability” Strategies at Saskatchewan Health Authority

Across Canada, healthcare leaders are turning awareness into action when it comes to environmental sustainability—and the momentum is growing. In this episode of The HQ Podcast, we highlight a powerful example of what’s possible when a health system embraces sustainability not just as a goal, but as a guiding principle for innovation, equity, and long-term impact. Joining us is Bryan Witt, Vice President of Provincial Clinical and Support Services for the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA). A seasoned healthcare professional, Bryan brings over 25 years of experience to the conversation, with a background spanning clinical roles, executive leadership, and system improvement. Under his stewardship, SHA is moving from conversation to action—aligning environmental responsibility with system goals and community values. From rooftop gardens and energy-saving initiatives to Indigenous engagement, Bryan shares a compelling vision of how energy and environmental sustainability can be woven into the fabric of a healthcare delivery organization. The conversation offers both strategic insights and practical takeaways for healthcare leaders, providers, and changemakers across Canada. What does it take to get buy-in at all levels of an organisation? How can sustainability move from a “side-of-the-desk” effort to a central pillar? And what lessons can health professionals draw from SHA’s journey? Tune in for a thoughtful discussion about leading systemic change through environmental stewardship in healthcare.   Key Discussions: A Personal Journey into Planetary Health How did Bryan’s career evolve to include sustainability leadership in healthcare? Defining Sustainability in the Health System Context What does “sustainability” mean at SHA? Why is planetary health relevant to healthcare, and what makes it a priority? Getting Leadership on Board How did Bryan gain the support of SHA’s executive team and board? What role did environmental scans, internal data, and alignment with SHA’s vision play? From Vision to Action How does SHA engage staff in green initiatives like energy reduction? How is sustainability embedded—not sidelined—as part of SHA’s operations? The Role of LEAN in Green How has LEAN helped support environmental efforts? What kinds of efficiencies and improvements are emerging from this integration? Community and Cultural Collaboration How is SHA engaging First Nations and Métis communities in its sustainability work? Why is inclusion essential for true planetary health? Highlights and Innovations What’s the story behind the rooftop garden in Saskatoon? What other initiatives are making a visible impact? Resourcing the Work and Sustaining Momentum How is SHA resourcing its sustainability strategy? How do they ensure this work continues to grow and evolve? Looking Forward What lies ahead for SHA’s environmental efforts? What advice does Bryan have for leaders looking to begin or accelerate their own sustainability journey?   About Our Guest Bryan Witt Vice President, Provincial Clinical and Support Services, Saskatchewan Health Authority Bryan Witt is a respected healthcare leader with a 25+ year career spanning nuclear medicine, healthcare operations, system improvement, and executive leadership. His roles have included Director of Medical Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Kaizen Fellow, and Co-Commander of Saskatoon’s Integrated Health Incident Command Centre during the pandemic. He holds an MBA from the University of Regina, a Fellowship in Health System Improvement from the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health, and is a Certified Health Executive. Through a philosophy of continuous improvement and collaboration, Bryan is advancing a sustainability vision that aligns with SHA’s core mission—improving care, enhancing systems, and protecting the health of future generations.   Helpful Resources Guest: Bryan Witt | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-witt-35610178/] Saskatchewan Health Authority | Website [https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/saskatchewanhealthauthority/] SAH Rooftop Garden | Story [https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca/news-events/news/rooftop-garden-producing-food-reducing-carbon-footprint]   Tell Us What You Think If this episode sparked ideas or raised questions, we’d love to hear from you. Please take a moment to share your feedback through our short listener survey: Click Here [https://survey.alchemer-ca.com/s3/50224943/ep60] And don’t forget—subscribe to The HQ Podcast on your favourite platform, leave us a review, and share this episode with others in your network who care about making healthcare more sustainable and future-ready.