Strategic Directions for Community Engagement in Rural Health Planning: Implementing Findings from a Provincial Study – March 2025
This report builds on earlier work related to the Gap Analysis, and explores the next steps required to ensure rural community engagement is actioned. This is followed by recommendations on prioritizing community voices through trusted community-driven organizations, which will ultimately help support a more responsive, accountable, and community-aligned rural healthcare system in British Columbia.
Strengthening Health Resources for Immigrants, Refugees, and Newcomers in Greater Vancouver Through Cross Cultural Health Brokers – February 2024
This report aims to better understand and document an innovative model of employing Internationally Trained Health Professionals as Cross-Cultural Health Brokers (CCHBs) to provide culturally competent and appropriate care to immigrants, refugees, and newcomers to Canada at the Umbrella Multicultural Health Co-op (UMHC). This is followed by recommendations for next steps and further inquiry.
Relocation for Solid Organ Transplant: Patient experiences and costs – 2024
This report presents findings from a pan-provincial study on rural patient experiences and costs to relocate to Vancouver for a solid organ transplant, with evidence-based recommendations for reducing health disparities and promoting health equity for rural populations.
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Community Health Centre – Community Engagement in Service Planning & Delivery: Findings from a qualitative study – March 2024
A report that considers evidence on the mechanisms, processes and outcomes of a commitment to community engagement in health planning and delivery, in the context of findings from qualitative research interviews which sought to understand how CHCs are meeting their goal of being community-directed.
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Advancing Community Engagement in Healthcare in Rural BC: A gap analysis to improve community involvement in healthcare planning – January 2024.
Summary findings from study suggest recommendations for enhanced community participation in rural areas of BC.
Improved Support for Rural Perinatal Mental Health: A Framework for Peer Support – January 2024.
A summary report of the findings from a study adapting and developing a peer support framework to support perinatal mental health for rural citizens. Development of the framework was conducted in collaboration with a community-based advisory committee and eventually was implemented with a PDA pilot group. Both the committee and PDA pilot group provided feedback to help evaluate the pilot project.
Rural Responses to COVID-19 Survey Findings (Summary) – May 2021
A summary report of findings from a provincial survey to understand rural British Columbia communities’ experiences and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Out-of-Pocket Costs for Rural Residents When Travelling for Health Care: Results From a Province Wide Survey in British Columbia – July 2020
A survey about the out-of-pocket costs that fall onto rural B.C patients as a result of having to travel out of their home community to receive care.
Citizen-Patient-Community Participation in Health Care Planning, Decision-Making and Delivery through Rural Health Councils: A Scoping Review – July 2019
A scoping review of the international literature to understand the structure, function and impact of rural health councils on health care planning, decision-making and delivery activities.
The North Island Project: Building Blocks to Sustainable Rural Maternity Care
Final Report – March 2019
Community-Level Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Health Care Providers to Rural and Remote Areas: A Scoping Review – December 2018
A scoping review of the international evidence, exploring community-level factors and strategies to facilitate and improve the recruitment and retention of health care providers to rural and remote areas. This review was conducted through the Rural Evidence Review project.
The North Island Project: Building Blocks for Sustainable Rural Maternity Care Annual Report – July 2018
Patients Travelling from Urban Geographies to Rural Hospitals for Procedural Care: A Realist Consideration – November 2017
Haida Gwaii: Maternity Care – July 2010
A report documenting findings from the Haida Gwaii phase of the “Logic Model Project,” a study was undertaken to develop evidence for supporting sustainable rural maternity care. There are currently no maternity services in Masset and maternity services without caesarean section backup in Queen Charlotte city.
Providing a Birth Support Program for Women of the North Island Region, Vancouver Island: An Aboriginal Midwifery Demonstration Project – August 2009
A consultation report on the potential for the implementation of an Aboriginal Midwifery Demonstration Project in the North Island region, commissioned by First Nations and Inuit Health (FNIH, Health Canada).
Interdisciplinary Maternity Care in Rural Environments: Campbell River Community Report – December 2009
A report from the “Interprofessional Collaborative Maternity Care Project” looking at Campbell River, BC and local barriers to models of midwifery care in the community.
Maternity Care in Bella Coola: Barriers and Solutions to Local Sustainability – October 2008
A report documenting findings from the Bella Coola phase of the “Logic Model Project,” a study undertaken to develop evidence for supporting sustainable rural maternity care. There is currently a moratorium on intrapartum services in Bella Coola.
Interdisciplinary Maternity Care in Rural Environments: Barriers and Solutions to the Integration of Midwives in Trail, British Columbia – July 2008
A report from the “Inter-professional Collaborative Maternity Care Project” looking at Trail, BC and local barriers to models of midwifery care in the community.
Bella Bella/Waglisla: A Case Study on the Implications of Closure of Local Maternity Services – August 2007
A report on the socio-cultural, financial, and health impacts on Bella Bella/Waglisla women of closures of local maternity services.
Rural Women’s Experiences of Maternity Care: Implications for Policy and Practice – July 2005
This Status of Women Canada Report investigated rural maternity care from the perspective of parturient women, care providers, health care administrators and local leaders. It was found that women’s experiences were bound in the complexity of relationships that were influenced by the attitudes and actions of care providers and the organization of health system services. The lack of clearly defined policies supporting rural maternity care was reflected in a tenuous infrastructure for local birthing. Literature on risk assessment provides a lens through which some of the findings may be interpreted.