One of the ways Island Health is working towards the creation of safer spaces for Indigenous Peoples is through the support and care offered to First Nation, Inuit and Métis clients, and their families, through the Indigenous Liaison Nurse (ILN) Program and Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPN) Program.
ILNs and IPNs can help provide First Nation, Métis, and Inuit clients and families, with support and advocacy through their journey of care; including:
- advocating on the patient’s behalf to ensure that the patient’s goals and needs are being heard and attended to;
- supporting their healing journey;
- supporting understanding of medical diagnoses, treatment, and services;
- helping patients and families find answers to their questions;
- supporting patients, family, health advocates, First Nation community health teams, and other Indigenous health service providers to ensure smooth transitions from home to hospital and back to home community;
- supporting connection for patients and family to cultural, spiritual, and traditional healing;
- assisting patients and families with sharing their experience of care and advocating for change;
- assisting with access to FNHA Health Benefits and/or Health Canada Non-Insured Health Benefits, including transportation, medical supplies, and equipment that is required;
- supporting culturally appropriate care by connecting patients and families with Elders, and/or with cultural and spiritual supports; and
- assisting those who may arrive at hospital with little notice and as a result require additional support.
We recognize that all Indigenous peoples have rights when accessing healthcare, which include:
- receive culturally safe care which is free of racism;
- be and feel understood, honoured, cared for, and respected;
- actively participate in decision making and make informed consent for care and treatment;
- privacy and confidentiality of your health information;
- request access to the information in your health record; and,
- refuse to have students, residents and other training staff present during your appointment or examination.
