Leveraging our role leading national collaboration in spinal cord injury (SCI) research and care, Praxis initiated a process in 2019 to create a national SCI care, health and wellness strategy. By aligning actions and focusing resources, this strategy would build on the strengths of the SCI community to improve health outcomes for individuals living with spinal cord injury.

Praxis initiated a community consultation process with the assistance of consulting firm Cense Ltd. aimed at examining the feasibility and readiness of engaging with the strategy development. These consultations resulted in the 2019 report, Being Bold: Toward a National Spinal Cord Injury Care, Health & Wellness Strategy Discussion Document & Consultation Report.

The theme of being ‘bold’ in developing and directing the strategy was commonly heard throughout the consultation:

“The time has come to be bold in developing a strategy that will connect the strengths of Canada’s research, practice, and care sectors together with a shared vision, moving SCI forward as a community.”

Also, clear recommendations surfaced that the SCI community could take to refine, develop – and, most importantly – implement next steps.

In 2020, Praxis proceeded with the development of a framework for strategy and action informed by consultations from the community. This framework was designed to promote a common understanding of goals and vision of the SCI community as well as the strengths and priorities within the SCI system of care, health and wellness. It also supports a coordinated effort and scaling up of SCI advancements in care, health and wellness to make a sustainable impact nation-wide that is focused on the needs of people living with spinal cord injury.

SCI Care Strategic Framework 

SCI Care for Canada: A Framework for Strategy and Action (the SCI Care Strategic Framework in brief) is a Canada-wide approach to coordinate and advance SCI care in Canada. The SCI Care Strategic Framework serves as a basis for a national strategy for the SCI community. It is flexible in adapting to meet the varying needs and priorities across Canada. It sets a national vision for optimal care that can be implemented regionally and locally. Priorities as well as proposed strategies have been identified and informed by a thorough review of past national consultations/meeting proceedings combined with more recent consultations/surveys with the SCI community (2000-2020, see Appendix 1 of the report).

The SCI Care Strategic Framework is centred on the lives of those living with SCI above all. The meaningful engagement of people with spinal cord injury in the process leading up to the development of the report ensures it is relevant and has impact. As a result, the SCI Care Strategic Framework enhances understanding of what works for SCI care and in what context. It has the potential to accelerate learning from one care setting, region or environment to another.

Read and download the full report.

Praxis as the Backbone

We act as a backbone organization to the strategy development process guided by the SCI Care Strategic Framework. Our role is to capture, share and connect the knowledge and perspective of local, regional and national initiatives to create alignment of activities and efforts across the country.

In the first two years, we will continue to engage our pan-Canadian networks and support establishment of a Pan-Canadian advisory network to guide the strategy and promote healthcare partnerships to realize this vision and sustain the progress throughout the next decade.

 

Ongoing Engagement

Those who may not have been engaged in prior consultations, we want to hear from you. We seek your expertise to further refine the SCI Care Strategic Framework. We need sustained agreement across regions and disciplines to make a vision of a national SCI care strategy possible.

Please forward your comments and any questions to SCICareStrategy@praxisinstitute.org.

Praxis plans to animate the SCI Care for Canada: A Framework for Strategy & Action community report through a grassroots storytelling approach by coordinating Learning Circles. Learning Circles are knowledge exchange events and activities guided by values of collaboration, openness and sharing, partnerships, supported learning, and commitment to excellence for the vision of SCI care in Canada.

Examples of SCI care excellence are already present within Canada. We find them in:

• SCI community-building by consumers,
• consumer participation in research design and commercialization,
• clinician best practice,
• innovation in prevention strategies,
• emerging forms of rehabilitation,
• knowledge translation to bring new ideas and care strategies to the people they will benefit most, and
• research of new SCI solutions for improved health and wellness.

Stories of excellence in SCI care need to find their way to audiences in SCI networks to build an optimum system of care, health and wellness. Visit the Learning Circles to discover resources from across Canada.

How is your work advancing excellence in SCI care? Submit your story and include it in an upcoming Learning Circle. We also value your feedback.

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