Indigenous Patient Navigation Program, De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre

The Indigenous Patient Navigation (IPN) program helps bridge the gap between indigenous peoples, health services, and supports. They provide assistance on a patient’s journey to health and healing through traditional healing, traditional practitioners, medicines, and cultural practices, as well as assistance with western models of care.

Services include:

• Culturally appropriate resources for health care providers and individuals from hospital and to home
• Linkages and liaison between the health care system and community services/support (acute care, residential treatment, mental health, addictions, etc.)
• Collaboration with service providers about the needs of aboriginal people based on a number of factors including intergenerational trauma and the legacies of colonization
• Service care navigation across the health care system
• Identifying and addressing challenges and barriers to health care needs
• Assistance and collaboration with discharge plans
• Referrals and linkages to community services
• Enabling open lines of communication between individuals and health care providers
• Supporting individuals and family members to understand and participate in their plan of care