Indigenous Patient Navigators: playing a central role in patient advocacy
At VCH, we provide access to Indigenous-specific services and supports to help ensure the delivery of culturally safe care.
Indigenous Patient Navigators help provide access to Indigenous-specific health services.
To support Indigenous patients and families, Indigenous Patient Navigators regularly work with staff and medical staff to support access to culturally safe and appropriate care. These health professionals play a central role in understanding patient needs, advocating for them, helping them access care and connecting them to cultural supports.
Pictured: Amanda Dixon works as an Indigenous Patient Navigator at Sechelt | shíshálh Hospital
“We can't go through everything alone and there should be someone supporting you, whether they're family or not. The work we do to support patients not only helps them but helps the care team. We're supporting someone who may be alone or struggling, and just by being there and seeing patients daily, it helps them feel safer." - Cynthia Peal, Indigenous Patient Navigator, VCH