Addressing gaps in health care

Over 360 health care and social work students attended a screening of the film Falling Through the Cracks: Greg’s Story on Oct. 5.  

The moving 30-minute film was made in 2017 and follows the true story of Greg Price, an Alberta man who died at the age of 32 from an undiagnosed blood clot as a complication from testicular cancer. The Price family has held screenings at UM annually in the fall term for the past few years, either with panel discussions or students discussing the film in breakout groups. 

Hosted by the Office of Interprofessional Collaboration at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, the film was screened at the Frederic Gaspard Theatre on Bannatyne campus, as well as online for nursing students at Fort Garry campus and at the University College of the North (UCN) in The Pas and Thompson.  

In total, 134 medical students attended, along with 124 nursing students (UM and UCN), 61 pharmacy students, 40 respiratory therapy students and 10 students from the Faculty of Social Work. 

“Initially, the film was not made for an interprofessional audience, but rather for medical students and residents. Over the years, the Price family has done hundreds of screenings across Canada, and a few in the U.S., and they realized the importance and value of interprofessional collaboration in addressing those gaps in health care,” said Vladan Protudjer, director - education of the OIPC and instructor at the College of Nursing. 

Protudjer said future offerings of this event may include more hands-on simulation activities for interprofessional student teams following the film screening and debrief.  

“This will highlight important collaborative competencies and their value in team-based care all students will be a part of in their future careers,” he said. 

This year’s panel was led by Teri and Dave Price – Greg’s sister and father – and included Monika Warren, chief operating officer with Shared Health, pharmacist Kristi Watson, physician Dr. Rafiq Andani, social worker Ian Scott and Chantal Daniels, director of Ongomiizwin – Education. 

Daniels addressed the students from an Indigenous perspective about how “falling through the cracks” can happen in rural and remote communities in Manitoba. 

“I think about the community that you will be serving here in Manitoba, and … we still have a lot of people in the North who are still continuing to speak our Indigenous languages, so that is a barrier,” she said. 

In response to a question from a nursing student about advocating for patients, Warren spoke about taking time to speak with patients throughout their journey. 

“It’s sinking in for them. You could see it on Greg’s face in the film. There was a lot of shock,” she said. “You’re the second set of ears that can help interpret information, answer questions and, more importantly, advocate when other concerns arise.” 

Tara Clarke, a second-year medical student at the Max Rady College of Medicine, has worked in health care for over 25 years, as a paramedic and physician assistant. She found the film both “moving and infuriating,” as someone who’s worked in the health system. 

“It really reaffirmed my commitment to continuing to advocate, identifying barriers, identifying gaps, and collaborating with the system to try to effectuate positive changes so that we don't need to have more inspiring talks,” Clarke said. 

“It speaks to us as people, that the system isn’t just about treating patients. It’s about recognizing this is a human being with a family, with a life, with interests and future goals. And you need to remember that.”