PCN Dashboard Updates

Stay up to date with all things KB PCN by visiting the PCN Dashboard > bit.ly/kbpcn-dashboard.

Recent updates to the Dashboard include:

• Resources from recent All Member Learning Labs, including the Direct Booking Cheat Sheet.
• Updates to the Regional Hub page with information about services offered and how to optimize referrals.

PCN Refresh Update

Nurse in Practice Program - Applications open

The Ministry of Health is now accepting applications for the Nurse in Practice (NinP) Program. Under this program, primary care clinics that deliver longitudinal primary care to a panel of patients, or who provide focused primary care to priority populations (e.g. maternity care) may be eligible for funding to hire a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) to work as part of their core clinical practice team.

The Ministry will begin receiving applications from eligible clinics this month, to see nurses hired in Spring 2024. The NinP Application Guide outlines full eligibility criteria for FPs/NPs who are delivering longitudinal primary care to a full panel of patients or who deliver primary care to priority populations. 

Prior to applying to participate, interested clinics must review all eligibility criteria, including access, attachment expectations and other program parameters which are fully described in the Application Guide. The guide states that clinics with existing PCN/IH-employed RNs are not eligible for the program. If you currently have a PCN/IPCC RN on your team and you would be interested in the NinP program, please reach out to Julius at juliushw@kbdivision.ca or Erin at erin.fazzino@interiorhealth.ca to discuss options.

Regional Hub Referral Tips

All PCN clinics are encouraged to refer patients to regional PCN team members on an ongoing basis to increase capacity and enhance patient care. Read on for more information about the referral process.

Important information to include when making a referral 

The PCN regional referral form was recently updated. Please replace the previous referral form with this new version. You can access this form via the PCN Dashboard and on Pathways. Profile and Med Access templates will be available on Pathways this week. 

To ensure a smooth and successful referral, please include all of the following information:

• Up to date patient phone number
• Clear reason for referral
• Referring clinician
• PCN resource you are referring to (eg. Dietitian)

Missing information in a referral creates extra work for everyone involved and can cause delays in getting the patient the care they need.

Optimizing referrals to the PCN RT: Referring early on in diagnosis is key

The PCN regional Respiratory Therapist (RT), Kelly MacGillivray, is available to all clinics and she currently has capacity to serve more patients.  She specializes in helping patients manage airway diseases such as asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis. The most effective way to utilize the PCN RT services is to focus on referrals early on in the disease trajectory.   

Contact Kelly at kelly.macgillivray@interiorhealth.ca or 250-608-4869 or use the PCN Referral Form.  Learn more about the RT role and services offered by other regional positions by visiting the newly updated PCN Regional Hub page.

Referring to Nelson OT

At this time, PCN OT services are only available in two CHSAs: Nelson and Trail. 

• Nelson CHSA: PCN OT Gina Hargreaves is available to clinics in Nelson and Salmo only.  
• Trail CHSA: PCN OT Robyn Lepa will start in June 2024, and will be available to clinics in Trail, Rossland, and Fruitvale. More information will be shared with clinics closer to the start date. 

Referring to the UPCC SW, PT & RN 

Did you know that the Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) in Castlegar accepts referrals for social work, physiotherapy and nursing and is open to patients outside of Castlegar? Referrals for nursing services must come from a primary care provider.  Referrals for SW and PT can be received from PCN staff without primary care provider involvement.

The UPCC PT provides urgent, short-term treatment and bridging to appropriate services. The UPCC SW is available for urgent care and offers telephone visits or in person appointments. Clinics without access to PCN PT and SW are encouraged to refer to and utilize these services. 

The UPCC is open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm. To refer to the UPCC, please visit Pathways for the UPCC referral form, which was recently updated.

PCN All Member Learning Lab

*New* - Direct Booking Cheat Sheet

Check out this handy resource with tips and tricks on how to implement direct booking with PCN team members in your clinic. 

March 7 All Member Learning Lab - Building trust through enhanced communication (Huddles, Rounds & Care Conferencing in PCN clinics)

Clinical rounds, regular team meetings, hallway conversations, and other communication mechanisms are crucial for building relationships and trust. Learn from other PCN clinics about the different ways they are communicating as a team and how these are having a positive impact on patient care and their practice. This session is open to all members of the PCN. Register here.

KB PCN Conference - Postponed until Fall 2024

In the December newsletter, we announced June 6, 2024 as the date for our first-annual KB PCN conference. We’ve decided to reschedule the conference for the fall in order to provide the best experience possible. More details will be shared as they become available.

High-priority patients in need of urgent attachment

If your clinic has capacity, there are a number of high-priority patents on the Health Connect Registry (HCR) in need of urgent attachment in the following areas:

• Castlegar 38 
• Nelson 20 
• Trail 3
• Boundary 3

If you have capacity to accept these priority patients into your practice, please contact Alison at agraeme@kbdivision.ca.

Cultural Safety 

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:

• Mar 12: Indigenous Approaches to Planetary Health with Elder Duncan Grady
• April 9: Understanding the Harm Report Process - Interior Health with guest presenter Lucie Poisson and Elder Deb Bird
• May 14: MMIWG and 2SLGBTQIIA+ in Canada with guest presenter Elder Sandy Laframboise 
• June 11: Announcing - Aboriginal Summer Book Club with Elder Deb Bird

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.

Reconciliation in the Health Care System 

The Foundational Documents Assessment is a resource developed to support you in deepening your awareness regarding reconciliation in the health care system. This resource helps you gauge your awareness of foundational documents, such as the TRC Calls to Action and the In Plain Sight report, and offers reflection questions to help you understand and deepen your commitment to upholding the foundational commitments in your work.

Check out a great example of reconciliation in action in this article about ‘the reconciliation glove project’, a partnership between an Indigenous-led social enterprise and a provincial health authority to supply Indigenous-branded gloves.

Virtual Talking Circles: TRC Calls to Action 18-24

The College of Family Physicians is hosting a virtual talking circle on Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action 18 to 24, which relate directly to the health care system. This event is February 28, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. (PT) and will be hosted by Dr. Veronica McKinney & Dr. Leah Seaman, and is MainPro Credit certified.  Register here.

Changes to PCN Attachment Code

As you may have heard from Doctors of BC, starting February 1, 2024, all FPs and NP in the province are required to use a new $0 attachment code to attach patients. This new code is 98990. 

The KB PCN was very recently informed about this change. The new province-wide code will be the only attachment code used to attach patients going forward. All previous PCN attachment codes (e.g., KB-specific code 97610) have been retired as of February 1. 

Changes to the PCN attachment code are connected to the LFP payment model, and have been made to support the implementation of the Provincial Attachment System (PAS).

The attachment code is also the primary metric used to measure the success of our PCN, so please ensure that you continue to use it for all patients attached to your panels.  

For more information, please contact Doctors of BC or the appropriate NP leadership team.