Unit 2 Professional Interactions - The Art of Linking Healthcare Professionals
Professional Interactions: Connecting the First Nations Health Authority and British Columbia Healthcare Professionals
"The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is the first province-wide health authority of its kind in Canada. In 2013, the FNHA assumed the programs, services, and responsibilities formerly handled by Health Canada's First Nations Inuit Health Branch - Pacific Region" (FNHA, 2013). Planning, design, delivery, and funding of culturally appropriate healthcare is the mandate of the FNHA (FNHA, 2017). Not only does this require an understanding of what the needs are, but also educating healthcare professionals on the history of Indigenous People and what cultural barriers may be present. Joe Gallagher, FNHA CEO stated he's grateful to the Doctors Of BC for their partnership for advancing cultural safety and humility (Doctors of BC, 2018). "Our vision for Cultural Safety and Humility is based on mutual respect, understanding and reciprocal accountability" (Doctors of BC, 2018).
On March 1, 2017, a Declaration of Commitment was signed between the FNHA and 23 regulatory colleges committing to cultural humility and safety, drawing together regulated health professionals that support the mandate of the FNHA (FNHA, 2017). The Provincial Services Health Authority has provided educational programs around the health of Indigenous People to promote better health, access to healthcare services and health outcomes, improve the collaboration of health programs, as well, provide and improve career opportunities for Indigenous People (PHSA, 2018). The five health authorities in British Columbia have made San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety training available for all healthcare professionals and is mandatory in the Interior Health Authority.
References
BC First Nations Health Authority. (2013). BC First Nations Health Authority, Canadian Institute for Health Information collaborate to enhance health care. Retrieved from https://www.fnha.ca/newsContent/Documents/FNHA-CIHI-Memorandum-of-Understanding-Media-Release.pdf
Provincial Health Services Authority. (2018.). | San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training. Retrieved from https://www.sanyas.ca/health-authorities/provincial-health-services
Doctors of BC. (2018). Supporting cultural safety for First Nations. Retrieved from https://www.doctorsofbc.ca/news/supporting-cultural-safety-first-nations