Preparing for Health Crises: Quebec's Rapid Evidence Plan

When COVID-19 hit, Quebec had to quickly find the best ways to handle the situation. Now that the pandemic is behind us, it's time to improve how we deal with crises in the future. The main goal of a recent project was to create a plan for quickly finding and using the best evidence during health crises in Quebec. First, let's look at what didn't work well during COVID-19. One big issue was that decision-makers didn't always have the evidence they needed, when they needed it. This made it harder to make the best choices. So, how can we fix this for future crises? The project suggests that we should have a system in place before any crisis hits. This way, we can quickly find and use the best evidence. The plan includes having experts ready to find and share the latest research. It also suggests setting up ways to quickly share this information with decision-makers. But it's not just about having a plan. We also need to train people to use it. This means teaching healthcare workers and decision-makers how to find and use the best evidence. It also means practicing how to use the system, so everyone is ready when a crisis hits. Another important part of the plan is to make sure we involve the right people. This means involving experts from different fields, like doctors, researchers, and community leaders. It also means involving the people who will be affected by the crisis, like patients and their families. Finally, the plan suggests that we should keep improving the system, even after a crisis is over. This means looking back at what worked well and what didn't. It also means keeping up with new research and new ways to share information. In the end, the goal is to be better prepared for future health crises. By having a plan in place and practicing how to use it, Quebec can make sure that decision-makers have the evidence they need to make the best choices.