When an Indigenous patient self-identifies at VGH or LGH, either during the admission process or at any point during their stay, a referral can be made to the Indigenous Health Patient Experience Team which consists of the Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN) team, the Indigenous Patient Care Clinicians and Indigenous Patient Care Quality (IPCQ) Liaisons.
To access the support of the Indigenous Patient Navigator Program or the Indigenous Patient Care Clinicians, please fill out the referral form and email or fax it to the program. They are available from 8:30 - 4:30 Monday to Friday.
Toll-free: 1-877-875 -1131
Indigenous Patient Navigators play a supportive role to patients, families and staff while respecting local traditions, protocols, and practices to ensure culturally safe health care service provision. The services provided by APNs include:
Consultation with health care staff on health care planning for patients
Resource/contact information on Indigenous specific resources & referrals for Health care teams
Coaching and consultation on Indigenous patient care
Traditional Cultural support – Smudging, traditional medicines
Consultation with patients and family on health care needs
Indigenous Cultural Safety Education
The IPCCs are experienced registered nurses who bring a variety of expertise. They will support Indigenous patients and families by:
Helping to strengthen their understanding of, and confidence in their diagnosis,
Prescribing treatment and discharge plans.
They will support staff by:
The APCQ Liaison works in collaboration with key stakeholders, internal to the organization and the larger VCH PCQO team to facilitate a respectful, comprehensive, and appropriate resolution of patient/family care concerns.
The APCQ Liaison provides leadership and consultation by incorporating an Indigenous perspective and bringing a lens of Indigenous cultural safety, diversity, equity and inclusion to the identification, management, resolution and education of patient/client/resident care issues.