THEMES
A. COOPERATION AND COORDINATION
Challenges:
• Little integration of VIHA funded health care services with each other and with the primary health care system on Gabriola Island
• most services based in Nanaimo – how will we know when there are enough people on Gabriola requiring specific services for them to be delivered on Gabriola
• Current lack of formal coordination amongst various community groups on Gabriola Island in terms of preventative and primary health care
Opportunities:
• Many community organizations on Gabriola contribute to preventative health care on the island
• Expressed interest by many community organizations to increase coordination between themselves and with the health care system
• VIHA service areas attended public session and indicated commitment to increased integration of their services with Gabriola primary health care system as per their mandate
• Solutions require actions and commitment from groups other than GHCS re: affordable housing, assisted housing, transportation, food security – all key to preventative health
Suggested Solutions:
• Database clearing house for what services exist on Gabriola - awareness
• Coalition/Council of community organizations – share info, identify and implement places for coordination and integration
• Funded coordinator for coalition – vision and coordination
• More on-island services – i.e. home support, mental health & addictions etc.
• Regular (twice/month) provision of chronic mgmt education, mental health support and other VIHA community & hospital based initiatives on Gabriola
• Integrated primary health care services – two options –
o centralized location for all services,
o centralized location for emergency response plus some services – other services dispersed throughout island with integrated communication.
• All health care providers and practitioners – traditional and non-traditional – coordinated