Comox Valley
Primary Care Network
The Comox Valley Primary Care Network is bringing together clinics, providers, and partners to improve access to team-based primary care across our region. By expanding services, supporting collaboration, and responding to local needs, the PCN is helping build a more connected and sustainable system of care for our community.
What is a primary care network?
A Primary Care Network is a geographic region where community-based primary healthcare providers are networked together.
Primary Care Network members work together to collaboratively provide comprehensive, patient-centered, culturally informed team-based healthcare to meet the needs of patients as well as the community.
Primary Care Networks work better for patients – so they can get the care when and where they need it – and for the care providers – so they are able to care for their patients while being supported by an interdisciplinary team of providers within a community network.
Stay connected to primary care in your community
You are the center of the care team
Who are part of the team?
Who can access the Care Team?
To access the Care Team, you must:
- Not be currently in hospital or long-term care
- Be a patient of a Comox Valley family physician or nurse practitioner
- Have B.C. Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage
Speak with your family physician or nurse practitioner about being connected with the Care Team.
If you do not currently have a family physician or nurse practitioner, please register through the Health Connect Registry online to join the waitlist in your area.
If you have any questions about the Comox Valley PCN, feel free to reach out.
Built to Evolve
In the Comox Valley, the Primary Care Network is being designed to flex and adapt to new healthcare needs as they emerge. We are learning as a Primary Care Network and this includes hearing from the members and patients about what is working well, what new services should be added and how we can improve as we go.
Areas We Serve
The Comox Valley Primary Care Network supports communities across the Comox Valley region, including Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, Denman Island, Hornby Island, and surrounding areas. Our work is focused on improving access to primary care and strengthening connections between patients, providers, and services across the region.
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Expanding equitable access to primary care
Our Impact
The Comox Valley Primary Care Network is helping improve access to team-based, community-rooted care across the region. Through new clinic models, co-located allied health supports, Indigenous-led planning, and targeted attachment initiatives, the PCN is building a more connected system of care that can better respond to the needs of patients and providers.
Expanding access through team-based care
The Comox Valley PCN is improving access to care through several team-based service models. This includes the Health Connections Clinic, physician outreach through iHOST, and primary care services at Foundry for youth ages 12 to 24. Together, these programs bring family physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social work, dietitian support, and clinic administration into care settings designed to better meet the needs of patients across the community.
Bringing allied care into more clinics
To strengthen care closer to home, the PCN is embedding allied health providers and registered nurses within clinics across the region. Today, this team-based support reaches 11 clinics and includes roles such as clinical pharmacists, social workers, mental health and substance use clinicians, dietitians, and nursing support. By bringing these services into patient medical homes, clinics are better equipped to offer more connected and comprehensive care.
Advancing indigenous care and closing the attachment gap
The PCN is supporting Indigenous primary care and attachment through culturally safer care models, new clinical roles, and collaboration with Indigenous partners in the Comox Valley. This work includes support for Indigenous-focused positions, physician services connected to K’ómoks First Nation Health Clinic and a new Métis Nation BC clinic, and ongoing guidance through the Indigenous Advisory Council. At the same time, attachment efforts across the region are expanding capacity through physician and nurse practitioner contracts, with the potential to connect an estimated 19,160 patients to ongoing primary care once fully established.
Governance
The Comox Valley PCN Steering Committee provides leadership and oversight to help ensure the Primary Care Network is meeting the needs of patients, providers, and the broader community. This includes guiding service planning, supporting implementation, monitoring performance, and identifying opportunities for improvement.
With support from the PCN Manager, the committee helps evaluate the effectiveness of the network and make recommendations as it evolves. The Division of Family Practice, through FPSC funding, provides backbone support that helps enable the Steering Committee to function effectively as a key program within the Division.
This work is strengthened through close collaboration with Island Health and guidance from the local Indigenous Advisory Council, which plays an integral role in PCN governance and planning.
Cultural Learning Journey
As part of our work with the Comox Valley Primary Care Network we are coordinating with First Nation, Métis and Inuit peoples to design a holistic and respectful learning journey that has Inuit, Métis and First Nations community members ensuring it’s accuracy and applicability. Together we are developing a tool kit that will be both physically available to Primary Care Network membership as well as electronically through Pathways. This toolkit is meant to create easy access to resources and knowledge that support physician’s and other health care professionals to easily navigate health and wellness options that are culturally appropriate for Métis, Inuit and First Nations persons. All members of the Primary Care Network teams will have the opportunity to engage with Cultural Competency training that aims to create a primary care environment that feels more culturally safe.
All of the care teams in the Primary Care Network will have the opportunity to participate in an exciting Cultural Safety learning journey and it is our hope that through this learning our Primary Care Network team will be able to provide culturally informed care.
Learn more about the Comox Valley PCN
Primary Care Networks are helping reshape how people access team-based primary care across British Columbia. Read the Comox Valley announcement to learn more about this work, or reach out to connect with the PCN team and explore opportunities to get involved.