Aboriginal Health Coordinator (AHC) Changes 

We are pleased to welcome Josie Moro as the AHC for the Grand Forks/Boundary region, and to welcome back Sage Laboucan, who has returned to her position as AHC for the West Kootenay region. Sage and Josie provide support and advocacy for Aboriginal patients as well as offering educational support for health care providers around Aboriginal cultural awareness, sensitivity and agility.

Much gratitude to outgoing AHCs Sarah Rumbolt and Genevieve Fortin for their dedication to Aboriginal patients and their contributions to Cultural Safety education and awareness in our PCN.

2023/24 Patient Experience Survey Now Accepting Responses

The 2023/24 Patient Experience survey was launched online on Nov 27th. This region-wide survey is a useful tool for gathering patient feedback and strengthening care in KB. Clinics will be receiving a communications package with more information about the survey. We thank you in advance for all of your efforts to publicize this survey in your clinics.

Health Connect Registry (HCR)

Since 2021, the Health Connect Registry (HCR) has successfully attached 2000 patients to a primary care provider, with an additional 470 pending attachment. There are still 6,500 patients on the list awaiting attachment, including a number of high priority patients who need urgent attachment: Castlegar 34; Nelson 11; Trail 6. If you have capacity to accept these priority patients or other HCR registrants into your practice, please contact Alison.

PCN Governance Refresh Update

On October 24th, members of the KB PCN attended the FPSC Primary Care Partners Event in Vancouver. While we’d hoped for concrete details about the PCN governance refresh (e.g. nurse in practice contracts), little new information was shared beyond what is available in this FPSC document. We will share more information as it becomes available. In the meantime, there will be no immediate changes to our PCN.

Nursing Expression of Interest (EOI)

The PCN Refresh will bring a new opportunity for clinics to employ nurses directly, through a Nurse in Practice contract. Although details are not available yet, we understand that an EOI process for these contracts is set to start in early 2024 and that employing nursing staff through the health authority will still be an option. More details will be shared as they become available.

PCN Expansion Funding Denied

In spring of 2022, the KB PCN approached the Ministry of Health with a three-year PCN expansion proposal. We received some of this funding, but the rest of it was put on hold due to the envisioned PCN Refresh.  The Ministry has since confirmed that we will not receive the rest of our proposed PCN expansion funding, and that future PCN expansion will come through the PCN Refresh process, which could include new “Nurse in Practice” contracts, an expansion of NP contracts, and increased team through innovative PCN clinic models. We will share more information about these opportunities as it becomes available. 

If you have any questions or concerns about the PCN governance refresh, please reach out to Julius or Erin.

Nursing Role(s) in the PCN - All Member Learning Lab on Jan 11th

With new Nurse in Practice contracts expected as part of the PCN Refresh process, now is a great time to explore different ways to integrate a nurse into your practice. Learn from clinics about the different ways they are working with nurses as part of their teams. This session is open to all members of the PCN and is applicable to all clinic teams, whether you have a nurse or you are thinking of getting one. Register here.

Cultural Safety Talking Circles: 2024 Dates

Cultural Safety Talking Circles are a safe space that supports the development of Aboriginal specific best practices as they relate to our Aboriginal population. Hosted by the COINS Aboriginal Wellness Team and Elder, sessions run on the 2nd Tuesday each month from 12:00 - 1:00 pm. 

Upcoming Sessions:

• Jan 9: Reconcili-ACTION  What work?  Whose Work?
• Feb 13: Indigenous Approaches to Planetary Health
• Mar 12: Cultural Safety and Humility Foundations 
• April 9: Understanding the Harm Report Process - Interior Health
• May 14: MMIWG and 2SLGBTQIIA+ in Canada
• June 11: Announcing - Aboriginal Summer Book Club

Come every month or drop in when you can. Register for upcoming sessions via Zoom. You will receive a confirmation with a calendar placeholder following your registration.

Resources

Apply for Quality Team Coaching in Spring 2024

The Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc) is once again accepting expressions of interest (EOI) from rural health care teams to join the Quality Team Coaching for Rural BC (QTC4RBC) program beginning spring 2024. Enrolment in the program includes an in-person coaching workshop, virtual team coaching sessions, plus additional coaching for team leads. 

For more information about the program and how to apply, please visit the website or sign up for an informational webinar. The deadline to submit an expression of interest for this program is Feb 2, 2024.  

Finding Your Way in Teamwork: Team Coaching Principles Workshop

In the workshop, participants will learn the attributes, skills and tools of high-functioning interprofessional teams and the critical role of developing psychological safety as the fundamental foundation of healthy teams. Participants will then be supported to design an action plan for strengthening psychological safety within the team they work with on a day-to-day basis. This online workshop is on January 17, 2024 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm PST. Visit the Finding Your Way in Teamwork webpage for more information and to register.