In the coming weeks, Health PEI will survey most Islanders to determine in which language they prefer to receive health services. The survey will also ask Islanders about their intentions to donate their organs and tissues. The information will be tied to an individual’s Personal Health Number (PHN), which is used to access health care in Prince Edward Island.
“Feedback from the survey will enable us to respond to appropriate service delivery for all Islanders, and make more informed decisions for our health care system,” said Mark Kickham, Manager of Medicare Services at Health PEI.
The language survey data will aid in the development of a linguistic profile for PEI, and will help in planning service delivery to individuals whose first language is not English. Providing Islanders with the chance to access health services in the language of their choice, whether through bilingual staff, an interpretation service, or the translation of health materials, ensures all Islanders have access to safe, quality care.
In addition, Health PEI will be using the information regarding Islanders’ wishes to be organ and tissue donors. The information will be used as part of a secure provincial Organ and Tissue Donor Registry, similar to registries found in other Canadian jurisdictions. The registry will be accessible by the appropriate persons, should the opportunity to donate arise. As always, Islanders are encouraged to discuss their decision to become an organ and tissue donor with their families.
Health PEI thanks Islanders for their feedback, which will contribute to making informed decisions for PEI’s health care system.
If you do not receive a survey in the coming weeks, visit www.healthpei.ca/donorandlanguagesurvey for a printable version. For more information, please contact the PEI Medicare Office at 1-800-321-5492.
This initiative is funded by Health Canada through its Roadmap for Canada’s Official Languages 2013-2018: Education, Immigration, Communities Program.