First Nation Engagement Sessions

Port Alberni
First Nation engagement sessions were held in collaboration with RCCBC, Nuuchahnulth First Nations and Central Island Division. Each session had 3 elders from Nuuchahnulth territories and 3-5 primary care providers.
Thanks to all who attended. The links below are to the short versions of each video. In the description below each video, you will see the link to view the longer video, if you have time and are interested in watching.
Below are Sessions 7 and 8.

Thanks so much for all who came. Final gathering and feast to celebrate above will be scheduled now for May 5.

Session 7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfK3phXc6Uk

Session 8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i54iP1ZM7I4

Oceanside
Similar cultural safety sessions are being planned for Oceanside First Nations and primary care providers.
Date will be June 2 at Qualicum First Nation. Email invite to come soon.

Oceanside PCN Update

Health Connect Registry: The latest Ministry of Health attachment data (February 2022) reports that approximately 6,200 patients are waiting for a primary care provider.  The latest Oceanside total population is approximately 53,000 (Census 2021).  This equates to approximately 8.55% of our population has requested a primary care provider.

Team-based care: Currently, we have three RNs and one pharmacist working across six practices to support PCN providers with increased access for patient care and improved quality of care.  In the coming months, a fourth RN and one social worker will be mobilized to join this initiative. 

Rural patient medical home: Conversations are underway to develop a PCN clinic in rural Oceanside to address primary care attachment and access for those highly underserved populations.  A space has been leased and Ministry of Health has approved a project funding grant for tenant improvement renovations.  The clinic is expected to open in June 2023.

Priority Response Team (PRT): Several months ago, the PRT was paused due to Island Health internal system structures needing modifications to support the PRT vision.  A working group is now meeting weekly to remove these barriers.  In the coming weeks, we are hopeful that these barriers can be removed, workflows can be finalized, and the PRT can be re-mobilized as designed.  

Flowerstone Family Health Clinic: Patient attachment continues.  A sixth nurse practitioner began onboarding this month.  Recruitment of a contract physician and a fee-for-service physician is ongoing.

Indigenous Health Team: Hiring is in progress for two First Nations-based Indigenous positions.  A cultural safety session is being planned for the Oceanside First Nations and primary care providers in June.  More details to come.

Should you have any feedback, questions, or curiosity about becoming a PCN provider, please reach out to Kristie Lamirande, PCN Manager, at:
250-203-7545 or PCNmanager@cidivison.ca.

Port Alberni PCN

Port Alberni Primary Care Network

Our service plan proposing new services in the Alberni Valley was submitted to the Ministry of Health in March. We look forward to working with our partners in the coming months to begin seeing this plan come to life. 
The Central Island Division wished to thank everyone involved in the project for their hard work and dedication in envisioning new services for all, with special mention to our physician leaders, Dr. Anienne Marsay and Dr. Ian Warbrick for helping us get the service plan submitted.

Do you want to make a difference in your Division of Family Practice community?

For some members, the ideal way to do that is to serve on the Division board.

Each year, Family Practitioners and community members dedicate their time and expertise to shape the future of the Division through board service. Board members provide the critical intellectual capital and strategic resources to aid in Division success and project development.

You could be one of those individuals.

Individuals who serve on a board have the opportunity to develop and grow as leaders, cultivate new skill sets, and shape the future of Central Island Division.

Central Island Division of Family Practice is looking for one or two family practitioners to serve on the Board in an advisory capacity.

Meetings take place on the third Wednesday of every month from 5:30 pm. Until now there has been a blend of in-person and zoom meeting. Meetings are compensated by sessional payments.

If you have an interest and have some questions, please reach out to Evelyn at 250-703-6159 or eclark@cidivision.ca. If you are interested in serving on the Board, let us know by Monday, May 9.

SAVE THE DATE - August 5, SUMMER BBQ

The Central Island Division of Family Practice will be holding a Summer BBQ to welcome members new and old back to in-person collaboration.
We are proud to show off our new Central Island offices, located at the historic Qualicum Beach Train Station, which is surrounded by lovely grounds - perfect for hosting a BBQ with Smokin' George's coming to cater the event.
Accommodation will be provided for members that require it, and you are welcome to bring your spouse or partner.
We look forward to seeing you all in person! 

Watch out for the invite arriving to your email inbox soon.

South Island Conference for Front Line Clinicians

Join us in Victoria for this year's Island Medicine Conference.

Date: Jun 10-11, 2022
Venue: The Victoria Convention Centre.

Click here to Register

Click here for more details

Friday's agenda will be a mix of plenary, breakouts, and panel discussions — with a focus on topics seen by health care professionals every day in practice, with breakout sessions in the afternoon where you can choose your focus.
On Saturday we move to two sets of small-group, hands-on simulation workshops.

We hope you can join us!

Application Form - UBC IMG Family Practice ROS Residents

Informational Handout
Application Form

Please click here for an application form for placement of the 2022 UBC IMG Family Practice Return of Service (ROS) residents and please click here for the information handout on the program that includes important timelines for the program. The residents will be practice ready in the summer of 2023.

The UBC IMG residency program provides an opportunity for Canadians who have trained in medical schools outside Canada to apply for and obtain medical residency positions in Canada. In accordance with the terms of their ROS contract with the Ministry of Health, successfully matched applicants must complete a two (2) year ROS requirement, in communities identified by the Health Authorities.

There are 8 UBC IMG Family Practice residents who will be available for placement in Vancouver Island clinics.
The deadline for Island Health to receive applications is May 15, 2022.

Completed applications should be returned fully completed and signed by the due date to Island Health via email to medstaffrecruitment@islandhealth.ca. 

This year again, eligibility has been extended to include clinics in both urban and semi-urban communities, to equitably address evolving need within the region. Eligible clinics should be able to support full-time, full-service family physicians.

The ROS Working Group, comprised of both Island Health and Divisions of Family Practice representatives, works together to redesign and improve the ROS process. This has involved describing new parameters to identify communities of need and co-designing administrative tools including the attached application form. The partners will continue to work together to further strengthen the processes and associated opportunities to support retention. Applications will be reviewed by the ROS working group after May 15, 2022, and clinics will be advised of the status of their application by no later than June 24, 2022.

To ensure the objectives and needs of the program are being met, changes will be approached in the spirit of continuous improvement, with the intention of reviewing the processes regularly.

Should you have any questions about the program or the application process, please contact Island Health at medstaffrecruitment@islandhealth.ca.

Please note – we have recently changed our general inbox to medstaffrecruitment@islandhealth.ca.

Christal Lawson | Medical Staff Recruiter
Medical and Academic Affairs
Medical Staff Recruitment
Phone: 250-755-7691 ext. 53902
1200 Dufferin Cres,
Nanaimo BC  V9S 2B7
Email: christal.lawson@islandhealth.ca

New Research and Advocacy Tools for Family Medicine

As you may know, the BCCFP has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the challenges facing family medicine and to advocate for the almost-one-million British Columbians who don’t have, and can’t get, a family doctor.

In case you didn’t see it, we wanted to share with you the release that we sent out on Tuesday, as well as the position paper and a copy of the Advocacy Toolkit that was shared with members.

Please click here for the Advocacy Toolkit.

Please click here for the Position Paper.

Please click here to view a copy of the release.

We will continue to share information as we have it, in the hopes that you will be celebrating BC Family Doctor Day on May 19 via your communications channels as well.

Questions/concerns:

Kilee Freedman, Administrative Coordinator
Email: kilee.freedman@bccfp.bc.ca
Phone:  604-736-1877

BC Cancer - New Service: Higher Risk Surveillance for Breast Screening Patients

Sent on Behalf of Dr. Colin Mar, Breast Screening Medical Director

Please click here to view the health care provider fact sheet regarding the launch of the Higher Risk Surveillance service for breast screening patients.

As evidence evolves, BC Cancer Breast Screening is expanding its services to facilitate breast cancer surveillance for patients at increased risk, specifically due to a prior tissue diagnosis as a result of a biopsy. BC Cancer Breast Screening recommends surveillance with annual diagnostic mammography for the following tissue diagnosis:

• Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia (ADH)
• Atypical Lobular Hyperplasia (ALH)
• Classical Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS)

Although these are non-cancerous histologies, they do indicate increased risk for breast cancer. To support these patients, the Breast Screening Program will assist by facilitating and formalizing surveillance through:

• Patient and Provider notifications
• Facilitated referral to diagnostic imaging for annual mammography

This new service is being rolled out systematically beginning the week of April 4, 2022. Please find attached an information fact sheet that includes a comparison of breast cancer risk factors and the program overview.

FAQs
Why is the Screening Program starting this new service?

BC Cancer Breast Screening is committed to early breast cancer detection. Facilitating these reminders and direct referrals will support this higher risk population in this goal.

Can patients identified under this higher risk category ‘opt out’ of this service?

Patients may prefer to continue routine screening with the breast screening program, and may request to opt out of the Breast Higher Risk Surveillance Program by calling the Client Services Centre at 1.800.663.9203 or their preferred Screening Centre directly. A Higher Risk Surveillance Client Opt Out fact will then be added to the patient record returning the patient to Breast Screening on a 12 month interval.

Any additional questions can be sent to: screeningadmin@bccancer.bc.ca.

Rx for Health

A great way to get patients started with physical activity and social connection. Ideal for the whole family, the Rx for health offers $40 off the registration of an RDN Recreation Activity or Active Pass..

Please click here for the RX for Health Package.

Please click here for a poster for your office.

Therapeutics Initiative

Please visit our website (click here) 

Therapeutics Letter (click here)

This is a bimonthly publication targeting identified problematic therapeutic issues in a brief, simple and practical manner. The process leading up to publication involves a rigorous, systematic literature review by different working groups of the Therapeutics Initiative, the creation of a draft which is circulated for comment among a sizeable group of over 100 local, national and international specialists with expertise in the particular therapeutic area and the commission of original artwork/illustration. The message is developed collaboratively by different working groups of the Therapeutics Initiative. The current Editor in Chief is Dr. Tom Perry, Chair of the Education Working Group of the Therapeutics Initiative.

Self-Management BC

Please note that workshops are scheduled on an ongoing basis throughout the year. For more information, please click here. 

In addition to our 6-week Self-Management Workshops, we offer the following:

• Self-Management Health Coach Program: this is a 1 to 1 telephone support program for individuals needing the extra support to achieve health goals. Each individual is paired with a coach and receives a weekly, 30-minute phone call for 3 to 6 months. Coaches are volunteers who may be living with chronic health conditions, and are passionate to help others to achieve wellness. For more information, please click here.  

If you have any questions regarding our programs, please email us at: selfmgmt@uvic.ca

Oceanside Hospice Society

The Oceanside Hospice Society serves individuals and families experiencing end-of-life, care-giving and bereavement in the area stretching from Deep Bay to Nanoose, and west to Errington and Whiskey Creek

We strive to provide links in the continuum of care by supporting care giving at home, in hospital or the palliative care unit at Trillium and at community care facilities.

Please contact us at 250.752.6227 or visit www.oceansidehospice.com for further information.

Divisions Dispatch

The latest news from the provincial team and complementary organizations.
https://divisionsbc.ca/provincial/news-events/divisions-dispatch

Divisions in the News

See what is going on in other divisions around BC:
https://www.divisionsbc.ca/provincial/news-and-events/in-the-news