Author profile

The Fraser Northwest Nurse Debbie initiative: Bringing primary care to patients’ homes

In 2015, family doctors with the Fraser Northwest Division of Family Practice identified a need for more support and services for frail elderly patients, many of whom were presenting in the emergency room with issues... Read More

The value of data: Identifying patient and community needs to inform primary care networks

BC’s health care system is undergoing changes that will connect more patients with primary care and enable physicians to help patients access additional services and support. This involves increasing team-based health... Read More

Group CBT appointments: Enabling GPs to support patients with mild to moderate mental health issues

Statistics show that one in five Canadians experience a mental illness or addiction problem in any given year, and one in two will experience a mental illness by age 40.[1] Mild to moderate depression and anxiety... Read More

Physician networks: Improving practice coverage, patient care, and physician support

Physician networks are connections between doctors that are built on formal or informal relationships. They enable doctors to rely on each other for practice coverage, and to support each other with clinical services to... Read More

Division maternity care projects: Closing gaps in care through networks and innovation

Maternity patients who do not have a family doctor (or whose family doctor does not provide obstetrical care) can experience significant barriers in accessing consistent care during their pregnancy. Closing gaps in care... Read More

Helping patients and families navigate dementia: The Kootenay Boundary Dementia Roadmaps

As Canada’s population ages, dementia diagnoses are on the rise—there are currently 564 000 Canadians living with dementia,[1] and 25 000 new cases are diagnosed every year.[1] A diagnosis of dementia, known as “the... Read More

Division-led school clinics improve access to care for students around the province

The concept of students being “sent to the school nurse” when feeling unwell is ubiquitous in popular culture. The reality in BC schools is much different—while health authorities coordinate school- and community-based... Read More

A mental health resource for all communities: The Salt Spring Island Youth Suicide Intervention Toolkit

When a child or youth appears to be struggling with suicidal ideation, talking with them about it can be difficult—for physicians, parents, teachers, and friends alike. But as physicians know, these conversations are... Read More

Fetch: Community and health resources at your fingertips

Connecting patients with services and resources in the community that can help them better manage their health is an important part of daily practice. In many communities finding these resources can involve a... Read More

Division-created patient resources: Empowering patients to make healthy choices

Educating patients about their health and the health care system can help to ensure that they make healthy, informed choices and feel engaged in their own care. A growing number of divisions of family practice have... Read More