title: The Canadian health care system: development, reform, and opportunities for nurses.
abstract: The Canadian health care system is a public insurance model built on the four fundamental principles of comprehensiveness, universality, portability, and public administration. Canadians are infinitely proud of the system and value it highly. Widespread fiscal concerns have placed all publicly financed programs under scrutiny, including health care. The challenge for health care planners and providers will be to improve the health status of Canadians, keep costs under control, and maintain the four principles on which the Canadian health care system was built. Nurses have many of the skills required to make a significant contribution to a reformed system. Working together and with other members of the health care team, nurses can play a pivotal role in shaping the future of health care and ensuring the health of Canadians.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Attenborough
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000266:history / Q000458:organization & administration*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000266:history / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009729:Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*