Indigenous Transition Facilitator
The Indigenous Transition Facilitator (ITF) service at Providence Care helps self-identified Indigenous patients navigate the system and in accessing equitable care while navigating the regional and federal healthcare system, programs and benefits.
In Indigenous communities the ITF helps community members access health care outside of their community; as well as within hospitals. The ITF also assists patients transition into care and back home, or to their next location.
At Providence Care the ITF serves self-identified patients on all units of Providence Care Hospital and Providence Transitional Care Centre. The ITF also participates in many groups specific to Indigenous health care and palliative care that aim to change the way health care is accessed and delivered for Indigenous peoples.
The Indigenous Transition Facilitator Role
- Facilitating culturally appropriate patient care
- Accessing cultural resources in hospital
- Providing Indigenous specific education for staff groups
- Discharge planning
- NIHB navigation – federal health benefits
- Community resource navigation
- Advocating for appropriate approaches to patient needs
Within Providence Care
- Supporting creation of Indigenous specific policy/ procedures
- Supervising student projects that target Indigenous health care
- Services available at Providence Care Hospital and Providence Transitional Care Centre.
Within the Region
- OHT Co-Chair Indigenous Palliative Care Subgroup
- ITF community of practice
- First nations Palliative care community of practice
- Metis Nation of Ontario Palliative care project
- Indigenous Wellness Council
- Providence Care EDI committee
- Hospice and Palliative Care Ontario Anti-Racism and Equity Advisory Group
Who can request the support of the Indigenous Transition Facilitator?
The first step to providing equitable care is to identify the patient population. Hospitals are not required to collect race-based data, however it is essential for measuring health inequities that stem from racism, bias and discrimination. (CIHI, 2022).
The Canadian Institute for Health Information, (CIHI) continues to provide guidance for the collection of race-based data. Specific practices are required for Indigenous identity data.
All patients at Providence Care Hospital and Providence Transitional Care Centre are now asked if they would like to self-identify in the registration process. This is recorded in the “cultural preference” field in the electronic patient record.
Two pieces of legislation guide the Self Identification process:
- The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)- Which explains that Indigenous peoples reserve the right to self-determination, autonomy and governance.
- Bill C-15: This act was officially adopted by the Government of Canada on June 16, 2021, which commits Canada to implementing the declaration. This means that Canada does not determine who is Indigenous by their colonial standards, but that Indigenous identity is determined by the individual and community.
The ITF position protects these rights to self-determination by serving all the Indigenous Peoples of Canada including:
- Status First Nations living on and off reserves
- Non status First Nations
- Metis
- Inuit
The ITF position also connects with patients who would like to self-identify but have personally or historically been affected by enfranchisement.
Self-Identify
At Registration, all patients are given the opportunity to voluntarily self-identify as Indigenous. Anyone who chooses to self-identify will be offered Indigenous supports, including those
from the Indigenous Transitions Facilitator.
A voluntary Indigenous self-identification process for patients helps to:
- Reduce gaps in service.
- Remove barriers to accessing equitable health care.
- Identify health trends and
common needs. - Provide data to support prevention
and care programs.
