2023 Northern BC Research and Quality Conference

Thank-You Note 

On behalf of Northern Health, UNBC, and the Conference Planning Committee, we would like to thank you for supporting the 2023 Northern BC Research and Quality Conference (Looking to the Future: Health in the North). Your contribution and attendance helped to inspire and energize research and quality improvement in the North.

This conference is a real opportunity to sense the uniqueness of the North that includes researchers, practitioners, patient partners, graduate students and committed institutions who share an interest to improve healthcare experience and outcomes through research, quality improvement and evaluation projects.

One of the major successes of this year’s conference was the opportunity and privilege to reconnect at an in-person event. We saw a range of research paths and people at all different stages of their careers and quality improvement. It is amazing to have space for emerging researchers and seasoned scholars to cross paths and work together, which was inspiring to see and creates a culture of mentorship.

We would like to express our recognition to volunteers from UNBC, Northern Health, and Patient Partners who contributions supported and enriched this year’s programming and delivery.

---

November 7 - November 9, 2023

This conference is a forum enhanced with resources and skill development workshops to share health and health services research, evaluation, evidence-based practice and quality improvement initiatives in the North. It has been designed to profile Northern BC research, evaluation, and quality initiatives and will provide formal learning as well as informal opportunities for participants to learn from each other. 

Theme: Looking to the Future: Health in the North

Dates: November 7 to 9, 2023
Location: University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George Campus

Sub-themes:

• Workforce recovery and rebuilding
• Mental health and substance use
• Cultural safety and health equity
• Health and environment
• Healthcare across the lifespan
• Indigenous health and wellness
• Innovative healthcare, technology and data quality
• Team-based primary care
• Co-creating healthcare for all
• Accessibility to healthcare

Objectives:

• Celebrate and share research, quality improvement, evaluation, and implementation of evidence in a northern and rural context.
• Support the development of research, quality improvement, evaluation, patient centric research and evidence-informed practice. 
• Facilitate networking and knowledge sharing of all stakeholders, including patients.
• Inspire new ideas, encourage diverse partnerships, and broaden the involvement of various stakeholders invested in the health of Northerners.

Workshops:

• Sarah de Leeuw, Marion Erickson, Lisa Striegler, Vivianne Josewski | The secret pocket workshop: Indigenous Stories in healthcare to address Bias and Move our Hearts 
• Andrea Lorette, Kait Greer, Sarah Giese, Lisa Warkentin | Developing an information/data quality management program 
• Deanna Danskin | Effective System Based Root Cause Analysis 
• Tom Skinner | Introducing Real-Time Virtual Support (RTVS) 
• Deanna Danskin | Working with Patient Partners: Effectively Engaging the Patient and Family in Quality Improvement
• Laura McNabb Coombs | Relationship Building in Indigenous Led Research: Reflections on the realities of my time as an Indigenous Health Research Facilitator (IHRF) with BC NEIHR 
• Laura Parmar | Liberating Structures: Tools and Activities to spark creativity and innovation 
• Daniel Sims | Old Blood: How history continues to impact contemporary health care 
• Jeff Hunter & Julia Bickford | Building Opportunities for Innovation through Partnerships in our Unique Northern and Rural Context 

Presentation and Panel Discussion

• Celebrating the Collaboration for Health Research in Northern BC Seed Grant Presentation and Panel Discussion 

Keynote Address 

• Dr. Sheila Blackstock |  Decolonizing Health: Dissmantling Oppression 

Plenary Session

• Dr. Terri Aldred | Cultural Safety and Anti-Indigenous Bias: Review and Discuss of Current Recommendations and Standards 

Concurrent Sessions

• Session A | Cultural Safety & Health Equity
• Session B | Accessibility to Health Care
• Session C | Health & Environment
• Session D | Innovative Health Care, Technology, and Data Quality
• Session E | Cultural Safety and Health Equity
• Session F | Accessibility to Health Care
• Session G | Cultural Safety and Health Equity & Indigenous Health and Wellness
• Session H | Mental Health and Substance Use
• Session I | Indigenous Health and Wellness
• Session J | Team Based Primary Care & Workforce Recovery and Rebuilding
• Session K | Healthcare Across the Lifespan
• Session L | Innovative Healthcare, Technology and Data Quality
• Session M | Co-Creating Healthcare for All

Poster Viewing Sessions

• Poster Session #1
• Poster Session #2

Award Recipients 

• Best Student Poster - Research 
  • 1st - Suet Ching Ng 
  • 2nd - Kiran Ghag 
  • 3rd - Fatemeh Mohammadnejad 
• Best Student Quality Improvement/Evaluation - Oral or Poster 
  • Leah Chambers
• Best Student Oral Presentation - Research 
  • Holly McVea 
• Person and Family Engagement Exemplar - Of Note 
  • Shayna Dolan 
  • Robyn Turner-Klopper 
  • Elsie Chan
  • Lisette Vienneau 
  • Lara Frederick, Sarah Brown, Rebecca Sketchley