Implementation of a Novel Indigenous Support Hub Model (ISHM) of Care in Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in Alberta
Principal Investigators: Stephanie Montesanti, Lynden (Lindsay) Crowshoe, Val Austen Wiebe, Esther Tailfeathers
The current service model for primary care delivery in Alberta is not designed to support primary care physicians with managing complexity issues experienced by Indigenous patients, constraining their ability to provide high-quality, culturally safe care. We plan to establish an 'Indigenous Support Hub' model within Alberta Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to address this. This hub will serve as a shared resource for PCN clinic physicians, nurses, and other clinical providers, offering support for the social, cultural, systemic and environmental factors influencing Indigenous patients’ health. Indigenous support workers will engage in virtual case conferencing with the clinician to provide guidance and advice on the patient’s case, fostering collaborative learning. This initiative will be carried out through a multi-method implementation science study.
