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- How to transform healthcare delivery like Florence Nightingale
How to transform healthcare delivery like Florence Nightingale
A human-centred service design approach
Welcome to the mid-December issue of the Button Insight Newsletter!
The Big Story
How to transform healthcare delivery like Florence Nightingale
A human-centred service design approach
We all know that the Canadian healthcare system is facing unprecedented challenges. An aging population, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, and systemic resource constraints require a fundamental shift in how healthcare is delivered. Traditional provider-driven models are evolving into patient-centred approaches that prioritize prevention, care coordination, and community engagement.
Human-centred service design is at the forefront of this transformation, offering a framework to reimagine healthcare delivery by focusing on the needs of patients, families, and providers alike.
While the temptation is to try to divine the future, we at Button love how the answer may just lay in the past, courtesy of Florence Nightingale, daring founder of modern nursing.
Community Engagement
A lively crew from Button recently gathered for the in-person social event in the heart of Vancouver and Victoria, and it was nothing short of a blast! The team traded their Macbooks for laughter and came together to celebrate good vibes and great company!
Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples®
The Button team of service designers from across Canada recently participated in the in-person training titled "Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples®" in Vancouver, B.C. Led by Bob Joseph of Indigenous Corporate Training Inc., the sessions provided our team with a deeper understanding and genuine appreciation of the rich histories, diverse governance structures, legal contexts, and cultural nuances that shape Indigenous realities.
The day covered historical events, appropriate and respectful language use, and the necessity of thorough research prior to engagement. The teachings also urged us to approach every interaction with humility, honesty, and openness.
The team learned that no single voice or perspective can represent the full spectrum of Indigenous experiences and that building relationships founded on trust, transparency, and reciprocal learning is essential.
“We learned that using a term like ‘engagement’ instead of ‘consultation’ can make a crucial difference. It’s not about playing word games; it’s about being transparent, respectful, and clear about what we’re doing and why.”
Moving forward, the guiding principle is to view each engagement opportunity as a chance to truly listen, understand, and grow—embracing the responsibility to forge more meaningful, respectful, and lasting connections.
Are you passionate about making an impact and bringing fresh ideas to the world? At Button, we’re always excited to meet talented people who want to help shape the future. We believe in the power of connection and community and would love to hear from you! Feel free to send your resume directly to Charlyne at [email protected]. Let’s create something amazing together!
Button Holiday Picks
'Tis the season to cozy up with blankets, sip on hot cocoa, and dive into some amazing holiday movies. Whether you're here for the laughs, the feels, or the holiday magic, we've got you covered! Here's our ultimate festive lineup—complete with Rotten Tomatoes scores and a quick teaser for each film.
An Almost Christmas Story (2024) – 100% Fresh
An owl stuck in a Christmas tree bound for Rockefeller Center embarks on a magical journey.
Arthur Christmas (2011) – 92% Fresh
Ever wondered how Santa delivers millions of presents? Enter Arthur, Santa's clumsy but big-hearted son.
Friends & Family Christmas (2023) – 90% Fresh
A photographer finds unexpected connections with a lawyer during her chaotic holiday season.
Home Alone (1990) – 96% Fresh
A young boy hilariously outsmarts two bumbling burglars after being accidentally left behind.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020) – 91% Fresh
A toymaker's inventions and his granddaughter's determination spark a dazzling holiday adventure.
Klaus (2019) – 95% Fresh
A reclusive toymaker and a kind-hearted postman team up to create the legend of Santa Claus.
Love Actually (2003) – 64% Fresh
A heartfelt exploration of love in all its forms, set against the backdrop of the holiday season.
Paddington 2 (2017) – 99% Fresh
Paddington bear spreads joy and warmth as he solves a mystery and wins hearts.
The Polar Express (2004) – 56% Fresh
A magical train ride to the North Pole restores a boy's belief in the wonder of Christmas.
Tokyo Godfathers (2003) – 92% Fresh
Three unlikely heroes discover an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve, sparking a life-changing journey.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024) – 91% Fresh
The worst kids in town take over a Christmas pageant, creating holiday chaos and unexpected lessons.
The Grinch (2018) – 59% Fresh
Dr. Seuss's classic comes alive with a colorful, mischievous twist on holiday cheer.
The Holiday (2006) – 49% Fresh
Two women swap homes during the holidays, discovering new love and a fresh outlook on life.
Which one will you watch first? There's a little holiday magic waiting in each of these films!
🔊The Soundtrack of Connection
As the holiday season draws near, we’ve come together to craft something more than just a playlist—it’s a shared reflection of who we are. With every addition, from the timeless grace of Moon River to the haunting resilience of Christmas in the Trenches, and the quirky joy of DOOM XMAS and Run-D.M.C.’s Christmas in Hollis, we’re weaving a tapestry of memories and traditions. These songs remind us that, no matter where we come from, music has the power to bring us closer, spark joy, and tell the stories that make this season so special. So we invite you to hit play on Spotify, enjoy the music, and join us on this journey.
Meet the Buttons
Meet Tony, Button’s full-stack developer
Hey, I’m Tony! I work with cloud-native tech like Kubernetes, OpenShift, and Prometheus to help teams manage containerized applications and optimize infrastructure while working as a Button full-stack developer.
I’m passionate about improving observability, scalability, and monitoring, with a special interest in debugging network issues.
Security and communications are also big focuses for me—finding solutions that keep systems secure and running smoothly. I’m always looking for ways to automate and improve processes so teams can deliver high-quality solutions efficiently
When I’m not tackling tech challenges, I’m exploring new cooking recipes and biking through the streets of Toronto.
Upcoming Events
Design Thinking: A workshop on creative problem solving in social work
DATE: Tue., Jan. 14, 2025
PLACE: Virtual
TIME: 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. PT
This interactive workshop will introduce the central ideas, principles, strategies, and tools of design thinking and creative problem solving.
Get your tickets.
Two-day Deep Dive in Design Thinking Mindshop™
DATE: Starting Dec. 18, 2024
TIME: 7 p.m. PT
PLACE: Virtual
”We must design for the way people behave, not for how we would wish them to behave.” —Donald A. Norman *Best Seller Workshop since 2018!
Join the Button team at this vital professional development workshop to explore everything from the implementation of the design-thinking processes and tools to drive innovation, all the way through to testing, refining, and improving new ideas, business models, and processes.
Worth Your Attention
What We’re Reading: Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better, by Jennifer Pahlka
Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better by Jennifer Pahlka explores the systemic challenges that prevent government agencies from leveraging modern technology effectively.
Drawing from her experience as the founder of Code for America, Pahlka critiques the bureaucratic inertia, outdated systems, and lack of digital expertise that stifle innovation in the public sector. She argues for a redesign of government operations using principles of user-centered design, agile development, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
For coders and UX professionals, the book is a call to apply their skills in making government services more efficient, responsive, and accessible in the digital age, ultimately fostering a government that can meet the needs of its citizens.
Further Reading
Stay on top of vital digital services news and tips by checking out insights from our previous newsletters!
BE MORE EMPATHETIC: A tale of technology and transformation in public services.
HOW TO EMPOWER YOUR TEAM TO EMBRACE CHANGE: Button’s four key considerations when tackling the human side of digital projects within your organization.
AGILE SCALE SCRUM AND USER TESTING YOUR PRODUCT: How to emphasize working in cross-functional teams for clear communication, iterative development and flexible adaptation.
AI IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR: We break down AI’s potential to revolutionize public services—as well as the serious pitfalls to acknowledge when handling public information and public trust.
🔥 THE NEWEST HOT BUTTON REPORT: Learn how to rebuild trust with your stakeholders. Download the full, free report now.
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