Vancouver Coastal Health

The following are resources available in Vancouver Coastal Health:
Vancouver Coastal Health is implementing a comprehensive Aboriginal Health and Wellness Plan under the direction of the Aboriginal Health Strategic Initiatives team. The Aboriginal Health and Wellness Plan for 2008-2011, seeks to establish an integrated and coordinated approach to improve the health of Aboriginal people and to understand the diversity of the cultural and needs of the Aboriginal communities. A key component of the Plan is to increase the cultural competency of the organization. A variety of strategic initiatives are underway to improve cultural competency including the PHSA on-line orientation program for staff, a series of cultural competency forums and the introduction of an Aboriginal Patient Navigator program and the Aboriginal Wellness Program. Additionally, Vancouver Coastal Health has many Aboriginal specific contracted services throughout its service delivery.


To access more information regarding the Aboriginal Strategic Initiatives Aboriginal Wellness Plan and our cultural competency forums, community engagement series, and Aboriginal advisory teams please click
here.
To view videos from the VCH Aboriginal Cultural Competency forum, 2010, please click
here:
As part of our overall cultural competency plan for Vancouver Coastal
Health, we are currently in the process of creating a list of all the work
regarding cultural competent practices that are being done around the regions in
Vancouver Coastal Health. Please look here for updated
information.
Aboriginal Patient Navigator Program
The Aboriginal Patient Navigator program is designed to assist patients in VCH facilities such as hospitals to better access cultural appropriate care and services. This may include helping to access special programs, providing staff with information on cultural appropriate care or assisting in discharge planning for patients who may limited community support.

Aboriginal Health Services Vancouver (AHS V)
Our urban Aboriginal Health Services supports a culturally safe framework where cultural practices are seen as meaningful and vital aspects of wellness and the person receiving care is the judge of what constitutes relevant health care. We seek on-going consultation with Aboriginal communities on how Aboriginal cultural values and beliefs can inform our health case service delivery for Aboriginal people.
Direct Service
The Aboriginal Wellness Program (AWP) is a direct service of Aboriginal Health Services and is designed to increase access and continuity of care in a way that meets the worldview and needs of Vancouver’s Aboriginal population.
Aboriginal Health Practice Council
The VCH Aboriginal Health Practice Council works collaboratively with Aboriginal community members and health care practitioners to develop and implement best health care practices, including both mainstream medical practices and Aboriginal Healing ways. Our aim is to increase positive health care access and outcomes for Aboriginal people by building culturally safe, informed and relevant health care.
Companion Document
This document gives a brief introduction of historical and current contexts that outline some of the key components shaping health standards for Aboriginal people and provides links for more in-depth information.
Click
here to open document.
Traditional Medicine Brochure
This pamphlet provides a brief introduction to some of the plant medicines that are used by Aboriginal people.
Click
here to open document.