In February 2014, a new symposium was held in Quebec, the aim of which was to create Franco-Quebec exchanges on hospital topics, bringing together professionals and experts. This event marked the launch of the Rencontres de Santé de Nice, whose 8th edition was held on February 2 and 3 in the eponymous city. Thanks to its success, this event has become a major annual rendezvous for players in the healthcare and medico-social sectors.
Its founder, Didier Haas, is particularly familiar with these issues, having devoted his professional career to the construction and management of health and social projects. This career path led Didier Haas to work at ARH (formerly ARS) Pays-de-la-Loire, where he developed the regional health organization plan (SROS), then created the Jules Vernes clinic in Nantes, of which he later became director, before becoming CEO of Groupe Hospitalier Mutualité Française. The common denominator of his career? A sincere commitment to health and social issues, which motivates Didier Haas to become ever more involved, as in his role as Managing Director of the ORSAC association.
The theme of this year's event was more of an appeal than a simple choice of topic: "Healthcare systems: let's not forget the human element", "a theme that seems so obvious but is so far removed, while the crisis is spilling over everywhere", said Benoît Péricard, co-organizer of the Rencontres and senior consultant at YourVoice, as he opened the proceedings. In a healthcare system where patient care is neglected to the detriment of organic studies, and where digital technology and AI are considerably modifying practices, it seems necessary to remember that care cannot do away with the link that unites patients and caregivers.
Difficult visibility for patients, users' experiences, making patients players in healthcare policies and caring for caregivers were all subjects addressed during the round-table discussions, which highlighted the various challenges inherent in the human element in the world of care. It was against this backdrop that Elisabeth Hubert (President of FNEHAD) reaffirmed the importance nurses and orderlies place on providing patients with personalized, humane care.
In this regard, Réjean Hébert (former Quebec Minister of Health and Social Services between 2012 and 2014) reminded us that the healthcare system was developed on a principle of supply, so today it is necessary to rethink it according to needs and in co-construction with users.
Didier Haas assures us that this 8th edition was a "resounding success", but in concrete terms, what can we learn from it? Is it really necessary to point out that the morale of these players is low, due in particular to recruitment difficulties and the persistent consequences of Covid? However, all these professionals remain committed and continue to work towards a more efficient care system that takes greater account of everyone's needs and expectations.
This willingness on the part of professionals to contribute and collaborate is imperative: we can't expect public policy to do everything. The world of healthcare urgently needs decentralization and delocalization. Local success stories already exist, but the urgency of the situation calls for these innovations to be strengthened and accelerated. Professionals know their sector and their territory, so let's trust them to launch new projects that can then be taken up by the government. The new organization of our healthcare system must give autonomy back to teams of healthcare professionals, and make room for innovation, while communicating best practices.
In this respect, Jean-Yves Grall (Director General of ARS Auvergne Rhône-Alpes) defends the need to launch experiments, while planning to evaluate them afterwards: "We need to be able to identify dysfunctions with users. Recruiting professionals is the sinews of war. We can encourage people to want to work with us by emphasizing our values: access to safe, quality care in all regions. Fabrice Heyriès (General Manager, MGEN), for his part, called for a greater willingness to listen, pointing out the persistent tensions between a highly regulated sector and the need for flexibility on the part of all players. More generally, Anne-Marie Armantéras (President of ANAP) speaks of an "institutional crisis in management and listening", and advocates questioning and constructing new ways of expressing the views of users and caregivers, following the model of design thinking.
As Denis Robin (Director General of ARS PACA) regretfully pointed out, a major theme emerging from the various discussions held during the Rencontres was the loss of meaning among caregivers. In his view, the values of commitment remain intact, but organizations have been shaken up and put under strain, preventing caregivers from providing feedback from the field. He therefore believes it is necessary to retain "our capacity to be scandalized", and acknowledges the difficulty of explaining to young talent that meaning is commitment, the ability to make things happen, or to bring something different to others. In response, Marie-Sophie Desaulle (President of FEHAP) believes it is necessary to respond to young people's concerns, particularly with regard to their room for manoeuvre between autonomous action and the organization's CSR policy.
Sophie Beaupère (General Delegate of Unicancer), for her part, addresses the issue of the balance between digital and human resources, with new talent in the sector seeking both excellence in care and innovation.
What's next? Didier Haas intends to pursue and maintain the feminization (already at parity for this edition) and rejuvenation of the speakers at the Rencontres Santé de Nice, but above all, he has a keen desire to follow up on the Rencontres, so that this event can be followed up throughout the year in the service of professionals and users.
And, as Didier Haas and Benoit Péricard put it, "we're neither carefree nor blasé. Yes, we'll use human beings as our DNA for better care and better health!
