About Us

ROAM & RSON

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Our Story

Helping Rural Obstetrical and Surgical Teams

WCGH Connect is a resource provided by the Port Alberni RSON Working group, who bring special resources to Port Alberni West Coast General Hospital staff and patients. RSON and ROAM are two funding initiatives managed by the Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc) aimed to support BC's rural obstetrical and surgical programs. This website, and the programs highlighted in it are funded by the RSON Working Group, an interdisciplinary team of practitioners in obstetrics and surgery committed to elevating healthcare at Port Alberni's West Coast General Hospital.

2007

RCCbc Begins

Four rural doctors and two staff members lay the foundations of our work. In our early years, we focused on building relationships to improve rural training opportunities for medical students and residents to bridge the gaps in rural healthcare delivery.

2018

RSON Funding Begins

The Rural Surgical and Obstetrics Networks (RSON) stabilizes, supports and enhances the delivery of quality healthcare to vulnerable rural populations in British Columbia, including Indigenous populations.

2020

ROAM-SP Established

The Rural Obstetrical and Maternity Sustainability Program (ROAM–SP) funds maternity teams in rural British Columbia to strengthen their peer, facility and regional networks and enhance rural maternity care services. ROAM also helps rural communities develop and implement tailored plans addressing the specific needs of their maternity care providers.

2025 and beyond

Present Day

West Coast General Hospital's RSON Working Group is committed to bringing high-quality medical care initiatives to Port Alberni. The establishment of the BiRCH Clinic, quality improvement initiatives, and innovations in practitioner training programs are all tangible outcomes of this commitment, now either fully implemented or actively ongoing.

RCCbc's Commitments

Our Core Objectives

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Networking

Fostering dialogue between our Nurses, Midwives and Doctors brings real synergy to our hospital

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Quality Improvements

Using data to create measurable change in the quality of care in our hospital

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Training

The RSON Working Group brings innovation in training to WCGH practitioners.

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Cultural Initiatives

Partnering with rural and indigenous communities to improve access to care

Our Working Group

Team Roles

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Perinatal Family Physician

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General Surgeon

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Perinatal Nurse Educator

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CQI Nurse

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Surgical Educator

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Registered Midwife

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Registered Midwife