Team Member, Connected Medicine Collaborative, Northern Health and Canadian Federation of Healthcare Improvement

Are you interested in participating in a one-year project that is focused on improving access to specialist support for you and your primary care providers?

Open to: Patient partners in the Northern region

Lead Organization or Department

Northern Health and Canadian Federation of Healthcare Improvement

Aim

• Increase awareness about culturally sensitive care for patients, families and care providers at the point of care.
• Increase awareness and use of the Remote Access to Consultation Expertise (RACE) line by 50% in order to seek feedback and make improvements to the existing system
• Create opportunities for building relationships between specialists, primary care providers and their patients/communities
• Help the project team understand Indigenous community members’ experiences accessing care

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of collaborate on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the research partner will work together with you to formulate solutions and incorporate your advice and recommendations into the decisions to the maximum extent possible.

Eligibility

• Personal experience with the health care system and living in an Indigenous community
• Comfortable with telling your story
• Comfortable meeting in large groups via telephone or video conference
• Must have access to a computer with video conference capabilities
• Must be diplomatic in their approach and non-judgmental, understanding that we are a team and that all want to improve how we engage with patients and how care is delivered in remote and Indigenous communities.
• If you have a strong interest in this work but have not yet completed a PVN orientation and Volunteer Agreement, are unsure if your experience is a good fit or feel another format of engagement would work better with your availability, please contact Cathy Almost directly.

Logistics

• Vacancies: 1-2
• Participation in this collaborative includes monthly two-hour meetings, as well as providing feedback on documents on a weekly basis. (Date and time to be announced)
• Meetings will be held by video conference or in person in Terrace and Prince George
• The collaborative expects to complete its work within 7 months to 1 year.

Reimbursement

Pre-approved mileage to attend in person meetings, otherwise no anticipated expenses.

Background

Many Northern residents live in rural and remote areas, facing significant challenges accessing specialist services and having poorer health outcomes than the rest of the province. Some patients delay or avoid seeking medical help because they cannot bear the burden of travel (e.g., time, expenses, risks, etc.) The numbers of specialists who practice in the three Health Service Delivery Areas (HSDAs) that comprise the Northern Health (NH) region are lower than in other parts of the province (Statistics Canada, 2013).   The lowest numbers are found in the Northeast (15.3 per 100,000 population), whereas the BC average is 104.8 SPs per 100,000. Current statistical data on the health and wellbeing of BC First Nations consistently illustrate the existing models of health care are not meeting the complex and unique needs of these most vulnerable populations. Northern Partners in Care (NPIC) funded by Shared Care, developed the Northern RACE line. NH has recently taken over the RACE line with one part time position to maintain its operation. There is an opportunity through CFHI Connected Medicine Collaborative to examine the current system, make improvements and explore what else is needed to support PCPs and patients with access to specialist care.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Cathy Almost
Engagement Leader, Patient and Public Engagement | Northern BC
250.615.9932
calmost@bcpsqc.ca