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Ministry of Health

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250 952-1887 (media line)

Backgrounders

Facts about the Mission primary care network

According to BC Stats data, the communities that the Mission primary care network will serve have a combined population of 44,585. Services will be available in all regions of Mission.  

Primary care networks mean that patients:

  • who do not have a regular primary care provider - a family doctor or nurse practitioner - will be able to get one;
  • will have an ongoing relationship with their primary care provider, which is important for their life-long health;
  • will get access to faster, more convenient care from their doctor or nurse practitioner and the care team;
  • will be provided and connected with a range of appropriate and accessible services and supports;
  • will be informed about all aspects of their care in community; and,
  • will know where to go to get the care they need, even on evenings and weekends.

New resources being allocated include:

  • 6.6 FTE family physicians
  • 1.5 FTE nurse practitioners
  • one FTE family physician group contract
  • one FTE traditional healer
  • nine FTE allied health professionals:
    • one FTE social worker
    • one FTE dietitian
    • one FTE physiotherapist
    • four FTE mental health counsellors
    • one FTE clinical pharmacist

 

What people are saying about primary care networks

Dr. Victoria Lee, president and CEO, Fraser Health –

“I am grateful to our teams and our partners for coming together to enhance and to better co-ordinate our health services. With the new primary care network in Mission, we will be able to support people with ongoing and consistent primary care services to remain healthy, manage existing health conditions and avoid unnecessary hospitalizations.”

Dr. Carol Pomeroy, board chair, Mission Division of Family Practice –

“The Mission Division of Family Practice and our family physicians are looking forward to working with these new resources for our patients. This will allow us to work in innovative and creative ways and provide the wraparound care our patients need and deserve. This team-based care approach will enhance our delivery of health care needs giving our patients the right care at the right time and in a more centralized manner. We are also looking forward to improving our provider experience.”

Dr. Kathleen Ross, president, Doctors of BC –

“The best health-care systems in the world have strong primary care, and we hope that the primary care network initiative provides additional needed resources to doctors serving their community, especially those that strengthen longitudinal care in these pandemic times. A primary care network will collectively increase a community’s capacity to provide greater access to primary care for those who need it, especially for vulnerable patients and those with complex health conditions.”  

Michael Sandler, executive director, Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC –

 “The Association of the Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC is pleased that the knowledge, skills and expertise of the entire health-care team will improve access to health care for British

Columbians through the new primary care networks. We believe that this approach will be pivotal in ensuring B.C. families feel connected to their health-care team and we are excited to see the launch of primary care networks in B.C.”