First Nations Health Programs At Whitehorse General Hospital

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First Nations Health ProgramsAt Whitehorse
General Hospital
We advocate for First Nation people at
Whitehorse General Hospital, to ensure quality
and culturally sensitive holistic health care.

• Donna Hogan, Laura Salmon September 29, 2005

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Yukon Territory

• Population 40,000
• 23 First Nations
• 23,000 in Whitehorse
• WGH has 49 acute care beds and services all of
  the Yukon and parts of northern B.C.
• Most communities have a nursing station and one
  has a 5 bed hospital.

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History of FNHP

• 1990 Framework agreement between Medical
  Services Branch (MSB), Health and Human Resources
  (YTG), and Council for Yukon Indians (CYI).
• 1993 7 culturally relevant health programs were
  negotiated as a part of Health Transfer from YTG
  to YHC.
• 1993 FNHP established reflecting the Yukon
  Health Acts acknowledgement that Aboriginal
  healing practices are important facet of health
  care.

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Governance

• WGH is governed by a 14 member, appointed Board
  of Trustees.
• Four of these members are First nations people
  appointed by the Council of Yukon First Nations.
  
• These members form the First Nations Health
  Committee, from whom the FNHP takes their
  direction.

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FNHP Programs

• First Nations Health and Social Liaison Workers
• Child Life Worker
• Traditional Diet
• Traditional Medicine
• Community Liaison Worker
• In-Service Training/Education
• Interpretation Services

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Health and Social Liaison Workers

• Liaison between hospital staff, patient family
  to ensure good communications.
• Explain diagnostic/treatment procedures or
  routines.
• Attend to patients needs.
• Provide culturally sensitive moral emotional
  support for patient/families.
• Assist in the areas of death, dying and grieving.

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Child Life Worker

• Provides support for parents whose children are
  hospitalized.
• Trained in Play and Art Therapy.
• Helps children cope with being hospitalized.
• Helps parent/s increase parenting skills.
• Promotes and enhances the communication between
  staff, patient, family and community.
• Family/community are encouraged to maintain
  involvement in caring for their child during
  his/her stay.

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Traditional Diet Program

• Traditional foods provided to First Nations
  in-patients on a menu-choice system.
• Families are also encouraged to bring in
  traditional foods cooked at home.
• The coordinator is a First Nations Registered
  Dietitian.
• The coordinator is also involved with the
  Diabetes Education Centre and works closely with
  the Nutrition Services Staff.

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Reason for Traditional Diet

• Traditional foods still part of the daily diet
  for many First Nations people.
• Unfamiliar foods can be a source of stress.
• Traditional foods are known to foster healing in
  times of sickness.
• It is necessary to offer a choice of foods that
  are acceptable and therapeutic for First Nations
  people.

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Traditional Medicine Program

• Coordinator consults with Elders
• Provides information and access to traditional
  healing and medicines.
• Provides traditional medicine awareness.
• Coordinates a video project Medicine from the
  Land.
• Elders take staff out to gather, prepare and
  store medicines.

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Healing Room

• The many uses include
• Prayer circles
• Appreciation of Life Ceremonies
• Healing (Quiet Time, Smudging, etc)
• Palliative Care for Patients and/or Families
• Talking/Debriefing Circles
• Mother and baby bonding

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Community Liaison Worker

• Assists with patients discharge plans and
  follow-up care.
• Works with community resources, arranging for
  home-care, CHR visits, family support, etc.
• Works closely with the Liaison Workers.
• Provides patient advocacy.

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In-service Training/Education

• Cross-cultural workshops for WGH staff.
• Practicum placement for health career students.
• Health Career Scholarship for Yukon First Nations
  students.
• First Nations Dietetic Internship

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Cross-Cultural Workshop

• Workshop is mandatory for all nursing staff and
  is recommended for others.
• Traditional Medicine Coordinator conducts 2 days
  of training.
• Workshop covers the background and history of
  Yukon First Nations people.
• Relevant events and cultural beliefs that affect
  the health of First Nations people and patients
  are outlined.