Kim Williams

SS05 – Co-creating Sustainable Rural Maternity Care: The Difference that Makes a Difference

Purpose:

Across Canada, the unabated attrition of rural maternity services continues to restrict people’s ability to birth close to home. In rural and referral communities, systemic challenges, professional tensions, and health human resource issues can undermine the stability and sustainability of maternity services. How can providers and health care partners co-create a collaborative and sustainable environment for rural maternity care – one that puts client and community needs at the centre – while improving relationships and building capacities for everyone affected? 

The intention of this workshop is to initiate a high-level conversation between providers – RMs, FPs, OBs, and RNs - that could encourage a true community of practice enabling of sustainable rural maternity care. The format will include stories from communities across Canada. These community stories will be followed by an interactive dialogue designed to elicit the relevant themes in sustainable rural maternity care.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explore inter- and intra-professional relationships, and their role in sustainable rural maternity care by identifying patterns of vulnerability and success that exist in rural maternity care collaboration.

2. Gain insights from workshop panel on practical approaches and successful strategies for trust-building engagement and co-creating local solutions.

3. Articulate next wise actions in co-creating sustainable rural maternity care nationally, locally, and regionally.

Presenter:

Kim Williams BScN, MscN, Networks Director, Rural Coordination Centre of BC, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Rural Coordinating Centre of BC