This talk will address the changing landscape of health services delivery in health system transformation in primary care, public health, home health and acute care. The provision of integrated care that bridges across health as well as social service sectors is an integral component of the transformation agenda to promote health and wellness. Innovative and effective interventions in practice and education that can or have involved community health nurses will be discussed in light of these changes to prepare us for the future.

About the Speaker...

Dr. Ruta Valaitis has a BScN and BA (Psychology) from the University of Windsor, a Masters in Health Sciences (Health Care Practice) from McMaster University, and a PhD from the University of Toronto. In 2007, she was awarded the Dorothy C. Hall endowed Chair in Primary Health Care Nursing and is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing. Since 2009 she is the Deputy Director of the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre on Primary Care Nursing and Health Human Resources, an Associate Member of the Department of Family Medicine and a faculty member in the Canadian Centre for Advanced Practice Nursing Research at McMaster University. She is also interested in exploring strategies to overcome the problem of siloed sectors by building stronger partnerships and collaborations between health and community services. This interest is carried through into her research, community service, as well as teaching.