BC Gov News

According to BC Stats data, the communities that the Chilliwack and Fraser Health Rural primary care networks will serve have a combined population of 128,508. Services will be available in the communities of Chilliwack, Hope, District of Kent, and communities in the Fraser Canyon inclusive of 22 First Nation communities and Indigenous peoples distributed throughout this region.

The Chilliwack North and South PCNs are the home of Aitchelitz, Kwaw-kwaw-Aplit, Shxwha:y Village, Skowkale (Sq’ewqéyl), Skwah, Soowahlie, Squiala First Nation, Tzeachten (Ch’i:yàqtel), and Yakweakwioose First Nation communities. The Fraser Health Rural PCN is the home of Boothroyd, Boston Bar, Chawathil, Cheam, Chehalis (Sts’ailes), Peters Band, Popkum, Seabird Island, Shxw’ōwhámél First Nation, Skawahlook FN (Sq’ewá:lxw), Spuzzum, Union Bar, and Yale First Nation communities.

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:

• Chilliwack North and South Primary Care Networks
  • 50.2 full-time equivalent (FTE) primary care:
    • five FTE general practitioners
    • two FTE general practitioners group contracts
    • 11.5 FTE nurse practitioners
    • 12.7 FTE registered nurses
    • 16 FTE allied health professionals
    • one FTE traditional healer
    • two clinical pharmacists
• Fraser Health Rural Primary Care Network
  • 17.3 FTE primary care resources:
    • 0.5 FTE general practitioners
    • one FTE general practitioners group contracts
    • 3 FTE nurse practitioners
    • 2.3 FTE registered nurses
    • 7.5 FTE allied health professionals
    • two FTE traditional healer
    • one FTE clinical pharmacist

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

“We are passionate about providing patient-centred care. The new Primary Care Network will enable people to access coordinated health care services that support them in preventing disease, managing existing health conditions and, at the same time, minimize the need for visiting the hospital. We know many people in Chilliwack and the surrounding communities would like to be attached to a primary care provider, and we are pleased to work with our partners to help connect patients to ongoing and consistent primary care services.”

Dr. Joshua Greggain, chairperson, Chilliwack Division of Family Practice –

“The Chilliwack Division of Family Practice is engaged and excited to partner with our primary care providers, our Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, Fraser Health and the Ministry of Health to innovatively bring three primary care networks (PCN) to our region. With a varied geography that includes an urban and suburban population in Chilliwack, rural communities of Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs, Hope and Boston Bar, as well as 22 First Nation communities across the region, we have created a plan to improve access to primary care services and will include novel team-based care into to a mosaic of allied health care offerings. These three PCNs will provide transformational change in an already robust primary care system, built on a foundation of family physicians, nurse practitioners, allied health-care workers and community partners. We believe the future of our PCNs has the potential to further support our providers, our patients, and communities, for exceptional health care in our region.

Michelle DeGroot, executive director for Fraser Salish Region, First Nations Health Authority –

“The planning, design and provision of culturally safe care in the primary care networks by and with First Nations is key to improving health outcomes and tackling systemic racism. The First Nations, traditional practitioners and healers embedded in this network will be critical to the success of this approach to inclusive, culturally relevant team-based care.”

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 who 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 network. 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.”