Posted on: December 13, 2023
At Island Health we are committed to improving access to Primary Care for everyone in our region. We strive everyday to improve the experience, quality and health outcomes for the
people we serve. Late this October, family doctors and primary care leaders in our region met in Nanaimo for the Interdivisional Strategic Council (ISC). The ISC is the forum for the collaborative primary care partnership between Divisions of Family Practice, Island Health, and First Nations Health Authority in our region.
Over the past year, Island Health has been working in partnership to advance regional-level priorities and initiatives that create Indigenous cultural safety and awareness in primary care, and that improve access to mental health & substance use (MHSU) supports for patients and providers.
At the ISC meeting this October, members received an update from the Primary Care MHSU Taskforce which is leading two major regional transformation projects. These specific projects are supported directly by Island Health MHSU and Primary Care Strategy Teams, who are working on recommendations that will identify system-level gaps and improve access to mental health and addictions support in a culturally safe way.
Our sincere thanks to all the members of the ISC and the Primary Care MHSU Taskforce. We look forward to sharing more details on partnered projects following the virtual ISC on February 29, 2024.