Navigating an unfamiliar health-care system

Credit to Author: Nandini Tirumala| Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2022 21:15:41 +0000

Health and wellness decision-making tips for newcomers

Newcomers make a lot of decisions within the first few weeks and months after arriving in Canada. These range from initial
settlement-related issues such as finding housing, schools for children, enrolling in language classes or skills training and making choices  about employment. Being new to the culture, environment and not having the family support or networks, it can be extremely daunting and stressful to be responsible for these decisions.

During the settlement process, an important area that may often be ignored involves decisions about your health and wellness. Faced with an unfamiliar health-care system, long waitlists, cultural and language barriers, some newcomers postpone seeking help or consultations for health-care needs.

What may come as shock for some is that not paying enough attention to a health problem in the early stages could end up as a serious health condition or a mental health crisis that requires having to make important decisions in a new environment. This can be overwhelming – having to educate yourself about a serious condition and learning to navigate an unfamiliar health-care system.

Here are a few steps that can help you prepare to make good decisions about your health and well-being.

Educate yourself about your province’s health-care system.
Learn about your province’s health-care system and how it meets the needs of its people. Research and learn from available resources, discuss with peers or seek support from settlement organizations and other ethnic community organizations. Some of the immediate needs and areas you may want to focus on are to finding a family doctor, learning about specialists, extended health-care coverage, role of emergency health services, walk-in clinics and public health programs. Learning about regulated professions and governing bodies can also help you make choices for other health needs such as dental services, psychologists, physiotherapy, etc. Having a good understanding of the system, options and services available can lay the foundation for making informed decisions.

Consider your personal values, beliefs and expectations.
Newcomers from different countries and cultures have different values, beliefs and expectations about approaching their health and wellness needs. To avoid being treated with a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, it is important for you to recognize your unique beliefs, values and preferences and be willing to share it with your health-care provider. It is also equally important to manage your expectations of care, which may be different from your country of origin. An example would be expecting to be seen immediately by your family physician if you think you need immediate care or help. Setting realistic expectations in situations beyond your control can also reduce self-blame for decisions that did not turn out the way you wanted.

Participate actively in decision-making for your health-care needs.
Discussing health and wellness issues with your health-care professional will make you feel valued, build trust, reduce stress, help you feel more satisfied with the decision-making process, and follow your treatment plans. Asking questions and accessing recommended resources or medical evidence will help you understand risks and benefits to make informed decisions. Seeking input from family members, faith leaders or trusted community members will also help integrate your beliefs in treatment recommendations and management. Learning about health-care policies system such as informed consent, role of substitute decision maker and laws like the Mental Health Act will also be useful to understand the role of patients and families in health-care decision-making.

As you navigate the health-care system and make health decisions for yourself and your family, it is important to be open to new approaches and methods, communicate effectively with your service provider and be flexible about choices. When your needs are unmet and you do not feel engaged or cared for, you may also have to make tough decisions that may involve changing your health-care professional, not consenting to a treatment or filing a complaint. Educate yourself to be an empowered client, consumer or patient.

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