Access to health services in Western Newfoundland, Canada: Issues, barriers and recommendations emerging from a community-engaged research project

Research indicates that people living in rural and remote areas of Canada face challenges to accessing health services. This article reports on a community-engaged research project conducted by investigators at Memorial University of Newfoundland in collaboration with the Rural Secretariat Regional Councils and Regional Partnership Planners for the Corner Brook–Rocky Harbour and Stephenville–Port aux Basques Rural Secretariat Regions of Newfoundland and Labrador. The aim of this research was to gather information on barriers to accessing health services, to identify solutions to health services’ access issues and to inform policy advice to government on enhancing access to health services. Data was collected through: (1) targeted distribution of a survey to communities throughout the region, and (2) informal ‘kitchen table’ discussions to discuss health services’ access issues. A total of 1049 surveys were collected and 10 kitchen table discussions were held. Overall, the main barriers to care listed in the survey included long wait times, services not available in the area and services not available at time required. Other barriers noted by survey respondents included transportation problems, financial concerns, no medical insurance coverage, distance to travel and weather conditions. Some respondents reported poorer access to maternal/child health and breast and cervical screening services and a lack of access to general practitioners, pharmacy services, dentists and nurse practitioners. Recommendations that emerged from this research included improving the recruitment of rural physicians, exploring the use of nurse practitioners, assisting individuals with travel costs,  developing specialist outreach services, increasing use of telehealth services and initiating additional rural and remote health research.Keywords: rural, remote, healthcare, health services, social determinants of healt

Networks for Business Innovation (Corner Brook)

Corner Brook is in transition, moving the focus of economic development to the knowledge-based economy to develop a more vibrant, diversified and healthy city. This shift requires more action oriented activities, greater collaboration between university, government and business, greater communication across groups and by building and supporting innovation networks and external connections. Innovation is grounded in networks. The focus of this project is to is to assess the rural innovation system (adapted cluster work for rural and small regions) in the city of Corner Brook. Using interviews and surveys to investigate who people talk to and work with, the study will map out the connections and networks and to use that information to bring these players together to further develop social and economic innovation in our city and region

Exploring Innovation in Newfoundland and Labrador

This panel is based on the experiences of several researchers at Memorial University, provincial government representatives, and community partners exploring the social dynamics of innovation in Newfoundland and Labrador. This research emerged in 2006 as part of a $2.5 million Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada – Major Collaborative Research Initiative. It included investigators across the country studying three major themes: (1) the social dynamics of innovation; (2) talent attraction and retention; (3) and governance and inclusion. The Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development at Memorial University led the Newfoundland and Labrador section of this project. Interviews were conducted with creative workers, businesses and research organizations in leading clusters and sectors of the economy, NGOs and, various levels of government. Advisory committees were established in four case-study locations, including: St. John’s, Corner Brook, Clarenville, and Labrador West. Workshops were also held to engage key partners. This study was closely linked to a subsequent community-based research initiative exploring the nature and role of networks in shaping innovation in the Corner Brook area. This collaborative project has involved post-secondary institutions, the government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the City of Corner Brook, and local business and economic organizations. Data was collected through interviews and an online survey and analyzed using social network analysis software. Strategies for enhancing innovation and community development through ‘network weaving’ were then suggested. A series of follow-up activities are now underway in collaboration with community partners. This panel explores the engagement between researchers at Memorial University and partners across the province in the production, validation, and use of knowledge. It highlights the importance of university-government-community partnerships. The session will also invite participants to share their own experiences with the social dynamics of innovation

Citizen Voices for Health: Hearing Local Perspectives on Access to Health Services in Western Newfoundland

Participants are invited to join the audience as part of a live community radio talk show on rural health. The host will interview people involved with a recent Rural Secretariat research project which gathered citizen’s views on barriers and solutions to accessing health care in rural Newfoundland.The show will highlight the main findings and learning’s in an engaging and relaxed setting complete with music, poetry, food and call-in – everything essential for a memorable community radio broadcast. Participants will hear about challenges and successes with the project as well as having an opportunity to contribute their own thoughts and ideas for next steps with the project. The session will be broadcast live though a local community radio station and also webcast – contributing to the overall mobilization of the project findings in the region and beyond. The research being highlighted focuses on the Corner Brook-Rocky Harbour and Stephenville-Port aux Basques Rural Secretariat Regions. Key partners included the Rural Secretariat Regional Councils, the Health Research Unit (MUN), Regional Health Authorities, the Department of Health and Community Services. The research included an extensive survey in the above mentioned regions, a literature scan of potential solutions/ opportunities as well as a series of kitchen table discussions hosted across the regions. The aim of the project is to provide research which can inform policy recommendations made by the Rural Secretariat Regional Council to the Provincial Government