Welcome to the April 2023 edition of the PCN Newsletter. Read on for an update on RD services, changes to the AHC positions, a research study opportunity and more!

PCN Dashboard - Easy access to information & resources about our PCN

The PCN Dashboard is a newly developed internal website with easy access to information & resources about our PCN.

Recent updates  to the Dashboard include:

• Q3 numbers for attachment and encounters on the home page
• A handy list of commonly used acronyms and recent Learning Lab presentations on the resources page
• Contact information for new regional staff members on the members page

Be sure to visit the Dashboard on a regular basis for more updates.

PCN regional Registered Dietitian (RD) Services Resuming

As of May 1, 2023, PCN regional Registered Dietitian (RD) services will resume and will be available to all clinics in the KB PCN. Allison Horkoff will return from a temporary leave on April 24 and Erin Evdokimoff has been hired into the new RD position created with expansion funding. We now have enough resources to expand RD services, including one-on-one patient support and group education, to all primary care clinics in KB. Please use the PCN regional referral form to refer patients to the PCN RDs.

Aboriginal Health Coordinator Changes  

This April has seen some changes to our Aboriginal Health Team, with both Ashley Williams and Maurice Trudel moving on to other positions. We extend our gratitude to both of them for their dedication and service to Aboriginal patients as well as the contributions they have made to Cultural Safety education and awareness in our PCN.

We are pleased to announce that two new Aboriginal Health Coordinators (AHCs) have been hired to fill these positions. Genevieve Fortin will be the AHC for Grand Forks/West Boundary and started fully in the position on April 6th.  Sarah Rumbolt will serve as AHC for West Kootenay and started on April 17th.  

As Aboriginal Health Coordinators, Genevieve and  Sarah provide support and advocacy for Aboriginal patients as well as offering educational support for health care providers around Aboriginal cultural awareness, sensitivity and agility. Genevieve can be reached at bahc.coinations@gmail.com and Sarah can be reached at kahc.coinations@gmail.com.

We are excited to welcome Genevieve and Sarah to the PCN!

Health Connect Registry and High Priority Patients 

The Health Connect Registry (HCR) has about 100 high priority patients, who were referred by emergency departments or specialists, awaiting attachment. The highest need for attaching these high priority patients is in Neson (57), Castlegar (26), Grand Forks (7) and Trail (5). We will reach out to primary care providers in these communities to assess attachment options.

Cultural Safety 

Upcoming Cultural Safety Talking Circles

The PCN Cultural Safety Talking Circles have been running since January 2021 as a place for PCN providers and clinical staff to find support on their learning journey towards providing culturally safe care.

Upcoming Sessions

• May 9: Indigenous Brilliance - Indigenous culture as a protective factor 
• June 13: Two Eyed Seeing - Bridging Indigenous & Western ways of knowing

Sessions run on the 2nd Tuesday each month from 12:00 - 1:00 pm. 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.

Unlearning & undoing systemic white supremacy & Indigenous-specific racism 

This webinar provides an overview of the innovative work being done by the British Columbia Office of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) to unlearn and undo systemic white supremacy and Indigenous-specific racism within their organization. The PHO has acknowledged that racism and oppression have been perpetuated in the healthcare system, and this insightful webinar provides an overview of the concrete actions they are taking towards creating an environment of cultural safety, anti-racism & trustworthiness.

Research Study Recruitment - Funding Models and the Integration of RNs in Primary Health Care Teams

Do you work in a primary care practice with a registered nurse? Are you a registered nurse working in a primary care practice? Funding Models and Family Practice Nurses, an SFU and UBC study conducted by Dr Lindsay Hedden (SFU), is recruiting primary care clinic teams with registered nurses to participate in case studies, including interviews and activity logging.

This project will draw upon the experiences of family practice registered nurses, family physicians, and clinic administrators across British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec to understand the variation of nursing professional practice and team functioning in primary health care settings funded by different funding models.

Interested clinics would participate in interviews to explore RN's roles, primary care team functioning, and the management of patient care. As well, RNs would be asked to fill in a workload survey to better understand type of activities and scope of practice. Participants may be compensated for their time.

For more information, please contact Dr Lindsay Hedden lindsay_hedden@sfu.ca or Sarah Spencer sarah_spencer@sfu.ca. For Interior Health employed nurses please check in with your manager or team lead if you are interested in participating.

Update from Doctors of BC on PCN Governance Refresh Changes 

On March 15th, the Transition Working Group (TWG) submitted their recommendations which are currently being reviewed by FPSC. The FPSC expects it will take approximately 8 weeks to review the recommendations and respond with next steps. In the meantime, no changes will be made to the PCN model and PCN implementation can carry on as usual.