STRONGER TOGETHER

Your Primary Care Team

The Primary Care Team is comprised of dedicated healthcare professionals like family physicians, nurses, dietitian, and mental health workers, our team collaborates with you to provide you with comprehensive, tailored healthcare to your needs.

As a patient of the PCN, your primary care provider will either be a Family Physician or a Nurse Practitioner. Family Physicians (FPs) are physicians who have completed medical school and specialized residency training in Family Medicine and Primary Care. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are advanced nurses who have completed additional training in Primary Care and can do many of the same things as an FP.

Providers are your main contact/resource through the healthcare system; they have been trained to diagnose and treat various injuries and illnesses. By developing a long-term relationship, you and your provider can work together to prevent health care issues and screen for potential health risks. By being part of the PCN, your provider can refer you directly to other PCN team members, such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, registered dietitians, and pharmacists.

In addition, the role of FPs and NPs include:

  • Working with you to understand and support your needs (What Matters to You)
  • Working with you and your family to maintain and improve your health
  • Order lab work and tests, as needed
  • Provide referrals to specialists or other available resources
  • Prescribe medications, as needed
  • Administer vaccinations
  • Advocate for you

Primary Care Network (PCN) Nurse Coordinators support you as you work towards your health goals. They do this by offering person and patient-centred health care and helping you decide “What Matters to You” WMTY and PFCC

Clinic Nurse Coordinators can help with the following:

  • Connections and referrals to other members of the PCN team as well as services and programs in the community
  • Assistance to easily navigate through the healthcare system
  • Promote healthy living
  • Self-care guidance in managing chronic disease
  • Individual and group health care education
  • Screening assessments to support ongoing care needs
  • Health care supports (e.g., ear irrigations, basic wound care, routine immunizations, etc.)
  • Care coordination if you live with a complex condition (eg. frailty, chronic pain, mental health, addiction, etc.)
  • Translator services are available in multiple languages when required.

PCN Nurse Coordinators can support you if are:

  • A resident of BC with MSP coverage
  • Attached to a family physician or nurse practitioner that is part of the Primary Care Network (PCN).
  • Referred by a PCN family physician or nurse practitioner

Primary Care Network (PCN) Dietitians help people of all ages make healthier choices about food and lifestyle, no matter the health issue. They motivate and support you in making changes to habits through continual guidance – empowering you to reach your health goals.

Registered Dietitians Can Help With:

  • Determining dietary and nutritional needs for many short and long-term illnesses.
  • Healthy eating support for families
  • Disordered eating assessments
  • Guidance on vitamin and mineral deficiencies
  • Post-op and wound healing nutrition education and support.

PCN Registered Dietitians can support you if you are:

  • A resident of BC with MSP coverage
  • Attached to a family physician or nurse practitioner that is part of the Primary Care Network (PCN).
  • Able to attend group appointments outside the home.
  • Referred by a PCN family physician or nurse practitioner

You may not be eligible for PCN Registered Dietitian support if:

  • You are actively followed by a registered dietitian in other specialized services
  • You have access to dietetic services under extended health benefits.
  • You have an active insurance claim related to the referral (ICBC, WorkSafeBC, 3rd party insurance).
  • You require specialized eating disorder management.

Indigenous Health Coordinators support all Indigenous patients, caregivers, and families, with the goal of improving overall health and wellbeing

Indigenous Health Coordinators Can Help With:

  • Indigenous patients requiring support with accessing a family physician or nurse practitioner
  • Support at appointments
  • Provide or support with transportation to appointments

Occupational Therapists help people of all ages and abilities live more independently and safely. In turn, you can avoid needing to go to places like hospitals or long-term care homes as much as possible.

Occupational Therapists Can Help With:

  • Mobility and transfer assessments/treatment
  • Daily living activities
  • Pain management strategies
  • Assistive devices and equipment recommendations
  • Energy conservation
  • Mental wellness
  • Caregiver support and education
  • Fall prevention
  • Driving screening
  • Assist with accessing BC Palliative Equipment Program and other funding agencies

PCN Occupational Therapists can support you if you are:

  • A resident of BC with MSP coverage
  • Attached to a family physician or nurse practitioner that is part of the Primary Care Network (PCN).
  • Able to attend appointments outside the home.
  • Referred by a PCN family physician or nurse practitioner

You may not be eligible for PCN Occupational Therapist support if:

  • You have access to occupational therapy under extended health benefits.
  • You have an active insurance claim related to the referral (ICBC, WorkSafeBC, 3rd party insurance).

Perinatal Social Workers assist with the coordination of pre/post-natal care by ensuring you have access to necessary services and work together to build healthy coping skills. They also help with issues like joblessness, not having enough food, and poverty. In addition, perinatal social workers assist you in taking charge of your own health care plan. Perinatal Social Workers make sure you understand your choices so you can make informed decisions about your care.

Perinatal Social Workers Can Help With:

  • Pregnancy counselling to explore options
  • Addressing Social Determinants of Health to minimize the influences
  • Information and assistance with referrals specific to perinatal services and parenting programs
  • Psychosocial support with the transition into parenthood

PCN Perinatal Social Workers can support you if you are:

  • A resident of BC with MSP coverage
  • Attached to a family physician or nurse practitioner that is part of the Primary Care Network (PCN).
  • Referred by a PCN family physician or nurse practitioner

Physiotherapists assist you in improving and maintaining your ability to function independently and stay physically active. They also work with you to manage and prevent any pain, physical limitations, or disabilities that might restrict your involvement in everyday activities. In addition to these, physiotherapists also promote activity, which can improve your health and overall quality of life.

Physiotherapists Can Help With:

  • Managing pain
  • Improved mobility
  • Increasing activities of daily living, such as stairs, falls prevention, dressing
  • Education
  • Equipment recommendations
  • Safety in the home

PCN Physiotherapists can support you if you are:

  • A resident of BC with MSP coverage
  • Attached to a family physician or nurse practitioner that is part of the Primary Care Network (PCN).
  • Able to attend appointments outside the home.
  • Referred by a PCN family physician or nurse practitioner

You may not be eligible for PCN physiotherapist support if you:

  • Have access to physiotherapy under extended health benefits.
  • Have an active insurance claim related to the referral (ICBC, WorkSafeBC, 3rd party insurance)

Primary Care Clinical Pharmacists (PCCPs) provide comprehensive medication management services focused on the ongoing care of adult patients with complex conditions to prevent and resolve medication-related problems. PCCPs also provide education on medications and address barriers to taking medication consistently. PCCPs will collaborate with you and your healthcare team to implement treatment plans.

Primary Care Clinical Pharmacists Can Help With:

  • Multiple drug therapies or health conditions
  • Optimize drug therapy for chronic diseases
  • Polypharmacy concerns
  • Medication allergies or adverse reactions
  • Sub-optimal drug therapy outcomes
  • Complexities from self-treatment including supplements
  • Any medical complexity, issues, or concerns

PCN Pharmacists can support you if you are:

  • A resident of BC with MSP coverage
  • Attached to a family physician or nurse practitioner that is part of the Primary Care Network (PCN).
  • Referred by a PCN family physician or nurse practitioner

Social workers partner with you and your family, helping you learn how to handle tough situations and manage your health better. Social workers can teach you tools and strategies you can use to cope with your issues. They also assist not just individuals and couples, but entire families, groups, communities, and even organizations to help build skills and connect you with resources that can improve how you function in society. Additionally, social workers respond to other social challenges like unemployment and poverty, lending a hand wherever they can.

Social Workers Can Help With:

  • Improving your social well-being.
  • Information and assistance with referrals to all government and community resources
  • Information and assistance with Advanced Care/End of Life Planning
  • Short-term supportive counselling
  • Connection to the most appropriate community resources
  • Navigation through various forms and applications (i.e., Income assistance, subsidized housing, food support)

PCN Social Workers can support you if you are:

  • A resident of BC with MSP coverage.
  • Attached to a family physician or nurse practitioner that is part of the Primary Care Network (PCN).
  • Not supported with your depression and anxiety, stress, and addictions by other MHSU programs in the community.
  • Referred by a PCN family physician or nurse practitioner

You may not be eligible for PCN Social Worker support if you:

  • Are accessing mental health and substance use support programs through Interior Health.
  • Have access to private insurance for counselling services