Primary Healthcare Delivery Dorothy Laplante RN, BScN, RNEC, MScN First Nations and Inuit Health Branch Canada Identifying and partnering with community leaders and groups

Health Team: Inter-disciplinary  Nurses/NP's full time on site.  Doctors – monthly visits  Dentists/Optometry – quarterly  Mental Health Workers  Community Health Representatives, addiction workers  Home care nurses/ paraprofessionals

What nurses do  Community Health:, including: - Public Health/Home Health - Primary care (Nursing Stations)  In homes, schools, health centres and nurse stations, nurses might be; - visiting new parents, facilitating new baby care - providing immunizations - encouraging physical activity - facilitating community education sessions - providing primary care services for common conditions during scheduled clinics - emergency needs of the community: trauma, obstetrical emergencies, cardiac conditions and accidents or injuries coordinate transportation: emergencies- specialist appts. - ensures adequate medical supplies

Challenges  Professional/personal isolation  Increased acuity  Location  Nursing shortage

Successes  Community level: Education, Internet, Radio, pamphlets, school visits  Regional: Human resources hiring practices  National: Policies, New classifications

Next steps  Establish priorities: Assessing community needs  Commonalities Identifying and partnering with community leaders and groups  Collaboration Building community capacity and networks to achieve health outcomes