English speakers in the Montérégie-Ouest may soon develop a new-found appreciation for the colour yellow.
As part of an initiative aimed at improving the overall experience of English speakers within the regional healthcare system, Santé Québec Montérégie-Ouest (SQMO) has joined a province-wide initiative, known as Projet ALLO, which associated the colour yellow with English-friendly care.
Users at different healthcare institutions in the Montérégie-Ouest can now look for staff members wearing a distinctive yellow card if they require help in English.
“Better understanding means better care,” said SQMO president and CEO Dominique Pilon, who is convinced the initiative will help to ensure area healthcare services are accessible, safe, and tailored to the realities of the region.
Nearly 100,150 people, or around 21.5 per cent of the population in the region, are English-speaking, which represents a concrete challenge in healthcare settings, where clear and direct communication is crucial. Projet ALLO offers a simple, human, and pragmatic solution based on a voluntary commitment by employees to serve as points of contact for English-speaking users. While the employees are not interpreters, they will play a key role in welcoming, reassuring, and supporting patients.
The program is also designed to support workers who may not be comfortable providing services in English by easily identifying colleagues who can help.
The project is taking place in close collaboration with local partners, including the Montérégie-Ouest Community Network (MWCN), which is funding and coordinating the rollout of the cards in the different facilities. Over 2,000 cards have already been distributed to different institutions within the network.
MWCN executive director Pauline Wiedow admitted she was pleasantly surprised by the significant and unexpected demand for the cards, especially at certain locations such as the Hôpital du Suroît in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, where 600 cards were requested. She explained that the initiative gained traction after it was successfully implemented in other regions, including Estrie and the Lower North Shore.
The MWCN has leveraged its involvement with various regional tables as well as its work with the SQMO’s English liaison officer, Karissa Clayberg, to become a key player within the regional health authority. Wiedow said that impact of this collaboration has been particularly significant for the senior population of English speakers, who tend to be less bilingual.
“We are glad that it is getting out there and it is exciting to be a key partner,” said Wiedow, who is especially pleased that so many employees have embraced the initiative. “It just makes everything seem like we have a voice and we are finally being understood,” she added.