Inspiring Change: Health Quality Council, Saskatchewan Health Authority to host Saskatoon screening of “Falling Through the Cracks: Greg’s Story”

On March 7 the Health Quality Council (HQC) and Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) will host a free public screening of ”Falling Through the Cracks: Greg’s Story,” a film about an Alberta man (Greg Price) who died unexpectedly in May 2012 at the age of 31. A review by the Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA) concluded that poor continuity of care and poor communication between care providers contributed to Price’s death. “Falling Through the Cracks” is intended to inspire positive change and improvement in health care.

After the Saskatoon screening, a panel of Saskatchewan health system leaders and members of Greg’s family will discuss what lessons can be learned from the Alberta case and what positive changes can be made to prevent a similar tragedy in this province. Price family members will answer questions about Greg’s journey and share ways in which his story has already led to positive changes in Alberta’s health care system. “This event provides us with an opportunity to hear directly from our patients and community,” said Beth Vachon, Vice President of Quality, Safety and Strategy for the SHA. “Our hope is to engage in an open discussion with those we serve about their experience with health care in Saskatchewan.” 

“I have been privileged to join Greg’s family members in dialogue after several screenings. On each of these occasions, I was deeply moved by the passion and tenacity of the Price family to make health care safer for all of us through application of lessons learned from Greg’s experience.”  – Dr. Dennis Kendel, Interim CEO at HQC

“Falling Through the Cracks” has been shown more than 130 times between October 2017 and the end of 2018, to approximately 12,500 viewers – including international conferences in Switzerland and Malaysia. The Price family has received over 200 requests to use the film, including 25 from outside Canada. “Falling Through the Cracks” has also become a learning tool: the film is now embedded in the medical school curriculum at the University of Calgary and the University of Toronto, with several other medical schools expressing interest. The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) shared the film with all the students in their health and medical programs.

The Saskatoon screening will take place Thursday, March 7 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Broadway Theatre. Members of the public are encouraged to attend this event. Admission is free; people need to register online to reserve their ticket.

The panel will include:

• Member(s) of the Price Family: Greg’s family members represent Greg, the film, and other projects in memory of Greg to inspire positive change in the health care system.
• Dr. Mark Wahba: Dr. Wahba is an emergency room doctor and physician executive of Integrated Urban Health with the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
• Dr. Dennis Kendel: Dr. Kendel is interim CEO of the Health Quality Council. He was a part of the team who performed a formal review of the status of the recommendations set forth from the original review of the Greg Price case in Alberta (“Improving Continuity of Care: Key Opportunities and a Status Report on Recommendations from the 2013 Continuity of Patient Care Study”).
• Darlene Dyck: Darlene is a Patient- and Family Advisor from the Swift Current area.

To learn more about the film and other projects the family has developed in memory of Greg, visit Gregswings.ca.