Until 2017, drug benefits for First Nations individuals were provided by the federal government. When the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) transitioned that benefit program into the provincial PharmaCare program, they noticed something concerning: many Indigenous Peoples, particularly seniors, were prescribed a large number of medications. Polypharmacy, which is what it is called when individuals…
Patients on Vancouver Island who have end-stage kidney disease and require dialysis therapy as a means of life support often face the decision of either travelling to Nanaimo three times per week for the rest of their lives, relocating to another community where there is a community dialysis unit, or exploring a home-based dialysis option….
When Glenn McRae became the Executive Director for Quality and Patient Safety at Interior Health, he knew there was an opportunity to improve its person- and family-centred care culture. A key issue was that the Person- and Family-Centred Care Steering Committee’s influence was limited within the health authority, despite involvement from dedicated volunteers, and this…
Christine Wallsworth’s late husband had dementia and, as his cognitive abilities deteriorated, she often saw his voice ignored and that she needed to advocate on his behalf. After a support group volunteer told her how patients, families and caregivers can advocate for the care they receive and influence policies, she joined several patient engagement opportunities…
In 2017, Interior Health had a serious issue with physician engagement. Only 28 percent of physicians reported satisfaction with the organization as a place to practice medicine, ranking last place among the regional health authorities, and almost a third of medical leadership positions were vacant. That’s when Harsh Hundal was appointed as Executive Medical Director,…
The BC SUPPORT Unit aims to support and increase patient-oriented research throughout the province. When Beverley Pomeroy joined its Fraser Centre team just one month before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they immediately identified a critical gap in resources and training for researchers engaging with individuals who’ve experienced trauma. With a personal history of participating as…
Michelle Peltier spent 15 hours a day in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre after her daughter Olive was born preterm at 29 weeks. This experience profoundly impacted Michelle and, soon after Olive was discharged, she created a support group on Facebook for other parents of children born…
Spasticity is a disabling condition marked by stiffness, muscle tightness and involuntary muscle contractions that limits quality of life for patients. Associated with damage to the central nervous system, it can occur after a neurological injury such as a stroke, or due to a condition such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. And it can…
Healthy habits formed in childhood can benefit individuals for the rest of their lives, which is one reason why the Spirit of Healthy Kids Regional Program stands out for its impact in northern communities. The program is the result of an innovative partnership between junior ice hockey team the Prince George Cougars, the Spirit of…
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We would like to acknowledge that we are living and working with humility and respect on the traditional territories of the First Nations peoples of British Columbia.
We specifically acknowledge and express our gratitude to the keepers of the lands of the ancestral and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, where our main office is located.
We also recognize Métis people and Métis Chartered Communities, as well as the Inuit and urban Indigenous peoples living across the province on various traditional territories.