Most of us in B.C. have experienced the challenges of the healthcare system at some point or another.
However, a beacon of hope is growing on the North Shore as residents begin to experience the improvements being made to the primary care system through the work of the North Shore Primary Care Network (NSPCN).
The Primary Care Network (PCN) is an innovative healthcare model being rolled out regionally by Divisions of Family Practice across the province in partnership with the health authorities, Ministry of Health, First Nations communities and other community partners. The mandate of the NSPCN is focused on patient-centred, collaborative team-based care. It promises to deliver continuity of care to all North Shore residents.
“Thanks to the PCN model there are 18 family physicians and 12 nurse practitioners now accepting patients on the North Shore. As a result, North Shore residents will be pleased to know that finding a family doctor is now faster and more accessible.” Currently, there have been over 22,000 North Shore people attached to a primary care provider with much shorter turnaround times to obtain a family physician”, says Dr. Ruth Campling, co-lead of the NSPCN.
The impact of the NSPCN
The NSPCN focuses on preventive care to detect potential health problems before symptoms or complications occur. Beginning in childhood and continuing across the patient's lifetime, preventive care improves overall health and reduces healthcare costs.
It’s a model that combines physicians, nurse practitioners, clinical pharmacists, registered nurses and mental health clinicians all working under the same umbrella, towards the same goal – exceptional, wrap-around patient care that is both timely and effective.
“The PCN model shifts the sole burden of care that the family physician has held until now, to be shared with a team of allied health professionals,” adds Campling. This promotes a more fulsome care continuum across many areas: up-to-date prescriptions; chronic disease management; mental health support, baby checks; immunizations and more.
“For instance, when you add a nurse to a physician's office and that nurse can assist in ongoing care for patients over time, the physician can attach more patients,” explains Dr. Campling.
More mental health support and preventive care
Beyond the benefits of additional nurses, the NSPCN can cover eight to 10 patient visits to a mental health clinician or counsellor when their primary care provider makes a referral. To qualify, patients must be covered under MSP.
Building public awareness and education
A large part of NSPCN's mandate is to educate the North Shore public on and build awareness of the growing services the PCN offers. To that end, the group’s extensive website is full of information about how to find a physician. The PCN emphasizes the importance of going to the right place for the right care starting with their family physician’s clinic; and then knowing when to go to the emergency department versus the North Vancouver Urgent & Primary Care Centre. You can also sign up for NSPCN’s quarterly newsletter for more information.
The North Shore PCN’s commitment to preventive care education and its growing senior population will be front and centre on March 7 at the Delbrook Community Recreation Centre for a free public conference called “The Fine Art of Aging”. This exciting conference led by the North Shore Division of Family Practice runs from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will include numerous experts – including B.C.’s Seniors’ Advocate, Dan Levitt – addressing timely talking points: exercise, nutrition, medications, cognitive decline, vascular issues and business aspects such as wills, power of attorney and estate planning.
Dr. Campling asserts, “That's a half-day of important health and non-clinical information where we’ll discuss critical topics for seniors across the area.”
Call to register for free at (778) 945-3017 or register online via Eventbrite.
