Conference - The Social Determinants of Health: Addressing Health Inequities on Vancouver Island: May, 2006

The Conference was aimed at increasing the knowledge and understanding of social determinants of health and the actions and approaches already underway or planned for on Vancouver Island. There were approximately 120 participants from across the island from a wide range of professions involved in population, health and wellness.

We provided a team of six facilitators for the interactive portions of the Conference. We designed and facilitated two sessions in which participants broke into six groups to explore potential roles and approaches for enhancing the population, health and wellness on Vancouver Island. In the first session, each group worked with one of the determinants, looking at present and potential roles for VIHA, local government, community groups and the private sector. In the second session, each group created a mind map to brainstorm on how to promote meaningful collaboration. A high level summary was reported to the plenary session via our lead facilitator.

"On behalf of the Organizing Committee for the Social Determinants of Health Conference, we would like to extend our sincere thanks for you and your team's participation as facilitators. Your sessions enriched and brought energy to the conference program. Delegates are looking forward to your summary of the sessions to point to new directions for future work. There is no doubt that your contribution was instrumental to the success of the conference."

Sylvia Robinson, Director of Public Health, Vancouver Island Health Authority & Jeremy Tate, Senior Manager, Health Facilities Planning Capital Regional District - Conference Co-Chairs.

Healthy Communities Collaborative Initiative: Sep/06 - Jan/07

We facilitated the development of this initiative between the Vancouver Island Health Authority and the Comox Strathcona Regional District. Its scope is to facilitate a fully integrated sustainable Healthy Communities approach that addresses the determinants of health through a participatory process and the establishment of healthy public policy. We assisted in the development of the initial Healthy Communities Collaborative Initiative Agreement that covered governance, statement of purpose, scope and high level goals. We also helped draft the initial communication plan.

"With your facilitation and leadership skill, we were able to craft an authentic and meaningful basis for our partnership."

Shannon Turner, Provincial Coordinator, Prevention Support Program, Vancouver Island Health Authority

"Your practical guidance on this broadly defined initiative was invaluable for helping us to focus on the specific while still honouring our guiding principles. And we had fun too."

Bob Long, Chief Administrative Officer, Strathcona Comox Regional District

Extended Hour Primary Care Initiative: August, 2006

We designed and facilitated a number of dialogues with Emergency Department and private clinic physicians and staff. These sessions focused on the Expression of Interest sent to a select group of family practice physicians to explore their interest in providing extended hour primary health care services to lower acuity patients presenting at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, Royal Jubilee Hospital and Victoria General Hospital Emergency Departments.

"Ian's facilitation skills were key in drawing out potential solutions from a wide variety of medical doctors and other clinical leaders. His questions were astute and helpful to provide clarity to all participants. Thanks Ian!"

Victoria Power-Politt, Primary Health Care and Chronic Disease Management Program, Vancouver Island Health Authority

Population Health and Wellness Strategy: Jan - May, 2006

We designed and facilitated a number of high level planning sessions with VIHA senior management to identify the priorities for a population health and wellness strategy. These meetings developed a consensus on workable themes for population health and wellness and identified critical success factors for this strategy.

"I appreciated your support of thinking clearly about what outcomes were possible and the steps we needed to take people through to move forward. Your facilitation brought people with really diverse backgrounds and no direct responsibility for the project to the table and kept them engaged."

Sylvia Robinson, Director of Public Health, VIHA

Chronic Disease Management Plan 2006 - 2009: January/06

We helped design and facilitate regional planning meetings organized by the Primary Health Care/Chronic Disease Management program within Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA). During the week of January 16-20, 2006, five workshops were held in Nanaimo, Port McNeil, Comox Valley, Campbell River, and Victoria. The meetings brought together representatives from programs and services within and external to VIHA that could help identify the local capacities, strengths, and opportunities as well as the current gaps in care for the management of chronic diseases in Vancouver Island communities.

The intention was to build a broadly based dialogue to help build a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan that incorporated local flexibility and addressed the needs identified by the regional areas.

"Ian's experience showed through as he insisted on bringing our Steering Group together for a pre-event planning session, which we thought we didn't need. With his exercises, we quickly realized many of us were using the same words with different connotations. The time invested provided a clear question for the events and the product was pertinent to all Steering Committee members."

Victoria Power-Politt, Primary Health Care and Chronic Disease Management Program, Vancouver Island Health Authority

Diabetes Registry & Outcome Management Planning Retreat: May, 2002

We helped design and facilitate this planning retreat for the Expanded Diabetes Project Team to confirm the draft vision statement, review goal areas and identify priorities. The group also develop specific action plans based on their shared priorities and got clear on their next steps.

"Ian, you did an amazing job of keeping us on track and at the same time, keeping us thinking big and creatively. I so much enjoyed the productivity, good team work and left feeling "so heard" yesterday! Best ever DPT meeting I have been to. I am so glad we hired Ian. Thanks Sylvia for suggesting this as a next step."

Lisa Underhill, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Diabetes Programs, Capital Health Region