A community-based approach to establish emergency care services in isolated and remote First Nation communities has been identified in a new report from researchers at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM).

“The majority of NAN First Nations are remote and residents do not have paramedics or first responders to call when emergencies arise, leaving people to fend for themselves in what are often life-threatening situations,” said Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, who holds the health portfolio. “Community-based emergency care will go a long way to improving the health and safety of residents of isolated communities.  We are looking for a strong commitment from the federal and provincial governments to put this approach into action.”

The report, Community-Based Emergency Care: An Open Report for Nishnawbe Aski Nation, outlines this new approach. Typically, remote communities have been too small to support conventional ambulance services. The report calls for local health workers and first-responders developed through local training programs for people living in isolated communities.

“Community-based emergency care is about empowering and equipping locals to deliver the care that communities need,” explains Dr. Aaron Orkin, an Assistant Professor at NOSM and the lead author of the report. The report identifies how this approach can deliver excellent care, save lives, build healthier communities, and even create jobs and economic development opportunities. “We see real potential to bring excellent and efficient care to some of the most underserviced populations in Ontario,” says Orkin.

Approximately 29 First Nations in Northern Ontario do not have access to 911 or paramedic services. Residents of First Nations face elevated rates of heart attacks, stroke, and mental health crises, and are four-times more likely to experience severe trauma relative to the average Canadian.

The report stems from an October 2013 roundtable including leaders for NAN First Nations, provincial and federal government delegates and healthcare providers. It offers a Vision, Key Recommendations and Guiding Principles with which to improve emergency care for injured and ill people in remote and isolated communities.  See the full report at: www.nosm.ca/cbec .

For further information, please contact:

Michael Heintzman
Director of Communications
Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Phone:  807-625-4965
Cell:   807-621-2790
mheintzman@nan.on.ca

On Friday, January 31, 2014, Dr. Roger Strasser, Dean of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM), was awarded one of seven Special Awards for Outstanding Health Professional Educators. The awards were presented during the closing ceremonies of the weeklong, annual Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) 2014, this year held in Pattaya, Thailand.

The Prince Mahidol Award Conference focuses on health issues of global significance in order to inspire positive policy reform. From January 27-31, 2014, approximately 550 participants from over 60 countries came together at PMAC to explore Transformative Learning for Health Equity. Three years since The Lancet Global Commission Report:  Health professionals for a new century: Transforming education to strengthen health systems in an interdependent world,  PMAC 2014 consisted of many outstanding presentations by world leaders in fields relevant to implementing The Lancet Commission’s recommendations for instructional and institutional reforms.

This year, the PMAC presented special awards for outstanding health professional educators whose work had a strong impact on the improvement of health care. Strasser was nominated for the award due to his commitment to delivering training in rural and remote areas, for innovation in education that has lead to the production of quality health professionals, and for his visionary leadership that has changed paradigms of learning.

“This award is not for me alone, but rather, for the Northern Ontario School of Medicine as a whole, recognizing the collective success of everyone who has contributed to the School’s world-leading achievements,” says Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean. “It is truly exciting for NOSM to be recognized as a leader in social accountability through distributed, learning-centered, community-engaged education and research.”

Photo attached: NOSM Dean Dr. Roger Strasser receives Special Award for Outstanding Health Professional Educators at the Prince Mahidol Award Conference in Pattaya, Thailand.

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is seeking two (2) volunteer members to join its Aboriginal Reference Group (ARG): one (1) Aboriginal youth member (between 18 and 29 years of age), and one (1) Aboriginal health-care professional.

The Aboriginal Reference Group is an integral part of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. It is a multi-disciplinary committee that advises the Dean on all pertinent initiatives relating to Aboriginal health, research, education, and administration. The ARG provides an important mechanism through which members of Aboriginal communities in the North are able to have substantive input into the School’s operations and priorities.

As a volunteer with the ARG, the incumbent would serve for a three-year term and would:

• Provide insight, direction, and guidance to the Dean.
• Contribute to NOSM’s unique mandate to be socially accountable to the people and communities that the School serves.
• Ensure that the interests of Aboriginal peoples continue to be accurately reflected in the direction of the School.
• Monitor and evaluate the implementation of the ARG strategic plan.
• Attend ARG meetings on a quarterly basis.

Interested applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and three (3) written references for consideration. All applicants must explain why they feel they would be best suited for this position.

Applications, enquiries, and expressions of interest should be forwarded to:
Chair, Aboriginal Reference Group
c/o Aboriginal Affairs
Northern Ontario School of Medicine
955 Oliver Road
Thunder Bay, ON
P7B 5E1

The application deadline is Friday, February 28, 2014.