​Lessons Learned and Cutting Edge Information Shared​​​​

Over 515 participants showed their heartfelt interest and commitment to integrating mental wellness and primary care by filling the Grand Ballroom to capacity at the Westin Bayshore for the First Nations Primary Care + Mental Health & Wellness Summit from May 22-24, 2019.

The 'Summit' was about weaving wholistic wellness into the health care system and discussions centered on team-based health care, with culture as an integral part. This gathering was the follow-up conference to last year's inaugural and popular First Nations Mental Health + Wellness Summit 2018.

The Summit highlighted that we are on the cusp of these new and exciting possibilities through the topics covered off by keynote speakers and panel discussions. Dr. Brenda M. Restoule, CEO, First Peoples Wellness Circle, talked about returning to traditional teachings for health and wellness.

Read the full post here!

The First Nations Health Authority and Emergency Management BC have signed a Declaration of Commitment to Cultural Safety and Humility in Emergency Management Services for First Nations People in BC.

Emergency Management BC (EMBC) is the province's lead coordinating agency for all emergency management activities. The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is a health and wellness partner to First Nations people in BC through population health and wellness initiatives and the delivery of services transferred from the federal government. The declaration signed by both organizations on May 22 recognizes that emergency management can have a lasting impact on First Nations health and wellness and that embedding cultural safety and humility in these services is "a means to deliver improved coordination and quality of emergency services to First Nations individuals, families, and communities in British Columbia."

Read more here.

​​Effective May 27, 2019, empagliflozin (Jardiance™) and empagliflozin with metformin (Synjardy®) are now available for coverage under PharmaCare as limited coverage benefits requiring Special Authority approval. The criteria for coverage is available on the Special Authority website. Jardiance and Synjardy are drugs used in adult patients with Type 2 diabetes and are in a class of medications called Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors.

Read more here.

​British Columbia's PharmaCare program is launching a Biosimilars Initiative to increase the use of biosimilars. The changes apply to all PharmaCare plans, including Plan W, which covers clients of the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). Plan W ​coverage of the insulin glarine biosimilar differs from the other plans.

The biosimilars initiative will generate cost savings that will create opportunities for new drug listings and boost existing coverage for patients. An immediate effect of this is the listing of Jardiance®, a diabetes drug, as well as the psoriatic arthritis drug Taltz®.

Read more here.

Effective immediately, First Nations Health Benefits (FNHB) is expanding infant eligibility for health benefits to 18 months to allow more time for parents to process their children's status number.

Under the new FHNB eligibility criteria, children aged 0–18 months will be able to access FNHB benefits using an eligible parent or guardian's status number.

Read more here.

Effective immediately, First Nations Health Benefits (FNHB) is expanding infant eligibility for health benefits to 18 months to allow more time for parents to process their children's status number.

Under the new FHNB eligibility criteria, children aged 0–18 months will be able to access FNHB benefits using an eligible parent or guardian's status number. Children older than 18 months will be required to have their own status number to access FNHB benefits.

Learn more here!

The seven interior Nations and Interior Health (IH) have renewed their commitment to work together to improve Aboriginal health outcomes and to ensure cultural safety across the health system. The Partnership Accord, originally signed in 2012, was yesterday re-signed and extended through 2024.

Leaders from the Nlaka’pamux, Dãkelh Dené, Secwepemc, Tsilhqot’in, St’at’imc, Ktunaxa, and Syilx Nations were joined by Interior Health’s Board Chair and President & CEO for the signing ceremony.

“This is an important milestone on a long journey to culturally safe and equitable health care for our people,” says Charlene Belleau, Secwepemc Nation Representative and Partnership Accord Leadership Table (PALT) Co-chair. “Our growing partnership with Interior Health is a key part of this process.”

Read the full news release here.

The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is now providing reimbursement for the Shingrix® shingles vaccine, making it the first health jurisdiction in the country to do so.

Effective immediately, First Nations Health Benefits will accept client reimbursement requests for vaccinations with the Shingrix® vaccine received on or after Oct. 1, 2018 by First Nations clients age 65 to 69.

Find out more here.

Nursing Forum Services​

Closing date: ​06/21/2019 16:00 (PT)

More info.

Senior Policy Analyst
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: June 12, 2019 at 4:00 pm

Harm Reduction Educator
Location: Prince George
Deadline: June 17, 2019 at 4:00pm

Senior Project Coordinator
Location: West Vancouver
Deadline: June 18, 2019 at 4:00pm

Communicable Disease Control Nurse Coordinator (Casual)
Location: Vancouver
Deadline: June 18, 2019 at 4:00 pm

Assistant Specialist, COHI
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Deadline: June 19, 2019 at 4:00pm

Corporate Office
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Deadline: June 19, 2019 @ 4:00pm

Digital Strategy Director
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Deadline: June 21, 2019 at 4:00pm

Community Health and Home Care Nurse (Part-Time)
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Deadline: Open until filled.

Find all job postings on our website.

Mental Health and Addictions Services Clinician
Organization: Kwakiutl Health Centre
Location(s): Port Hardy
Deadline: Open until filled
Job description

Home Care Nurse
Organization: Dease River First Nation
Location(s): Dease River
Deadline: Open until filled
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Aboriginal Child, Youth and Family Outreach Clinician
Organization: Northern St’at’imc Outreach Health Services, Lillooet Tribal Council
Location(s): Lillooet
Deadline: Open until filled
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Aboriginal Health Lead, Population Health
Organization: Vancouver Coastal Health
Location(s): Vancouver, BC
Deadline: Open until filled
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