Rural Obstetrical & Maternity Sustainability Program (ROAM)

The Rural Obstetrics and Maternity Sustainability Program (ROAM) improves overall health system access and function by stabilizing, supporting and enhancing the delivery of quality maternity and surgical care to rural communities and Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia.

Achievements

Expanding the network of ROAM Clinical Leads

In 2025, the ROAM program expanded to integrate local ROAM Clinical Leads at each of the sites participating in the ROAM program. Clinical Leads and Co-Leads stepped forward and were orientated at all 32 ROAM sites. ROAM Clinical Network meetings were also initiated as an opportunity to bring together the leads for knowledge exchange, peer support and network development.

The Clinical Leads will provide on-the-ground leadership for the interdisciplinary maternity team, which is anticipated to enhance resource utilization, clinical care, and momentum; while working closely with the Network Coordinator whose role is to support maternity team initiatives and cultivate community and regional partnerships. These additions build on ROAM’s value of enabling community-driven solutions and together, aim to reduce care gaps, strengthen rural provider networks, and keep maternity care rooted in communities–ultimately making services safer and more sustainable for families across rural BC.

Building a provincial network of Local Network Coordinators

The Local Network Coordinator role was fully expanded to all ROAM sites in 2025, creating a unified network of on-the-ground support across the province. By the year’s end, 31 sites had Local Network Coordinators in place—each completing a multi-session onboarding process to orient them to ROAM’s values, goals, and collaborative approach.

Local Network Coordinators play an essential role in helping teams sustain momentum. They provide coordination and administrative support, foster partnerships with health care providers and system leaders, and help teams move their sustainability priorities forward. To support connection and shared learning, ROAM launched monthly Coordinator meetings that quickly became a hub for collaboration, idea exchange, and problem-solving.

Strengthening Northwest connections

In October 2025, ROAM’s provincial team travelled to Prince Rupert, Kitimat, Terrace, and Hazelton to meet local teams participating in the program. The visit was a meaningful opportunity to connect in person, to listen, learn, and celebrate the incredible work happening across the Northwest. Health care providers, administrators, Clinical Leads, and Local Network Coordinators came together to share stories about their experiences, successes, and ongoing challenges in sustaining rural maternity services. The trip concluded with an open networking event, which brought together teams and partners from across the region to foster new connections and deepen existing ones.

Refreshing the Continuous Quality Improvement Tools

The ROAM program began the process of refreshing its Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Tools, an important step toward supporting data-informed, locally led improvement projects. These tools provide rural teams with up-to-date local data to guide their quality initiatives, education, and advocacy for maternity services.

The refresh process is modernizing the CQI database, streamlining access for teams, and incorporating feedback from providers across the network. The goal is to make the tools more intuitive, responsive, and meaningful for those using them every day. By enhancing how teams access and apply data, ROAM is helping strengthen local decision-making and equip communities with the information they need to sustain safe and high-quality care.

Explore the numbers

32 Teams

In 2025, 32 communities received ROAM funding to support maternity teams

45 Clinical Leads

During 2025, 45 ROAM Clinical Leads/Co-Leads were orientated at all 32 ROAM sites.

31 Local Network Coordinators

During 2025, 31 ROAM Local Network Coordinators were onboarded at sites across BC.

Making a Difference

“The Northwest has had a huge change in how maternity care is provided and it’s a direct result of the hard work and commitment of the people on the ground. The funding that RCCbc has brought to the table has been a game changer. As a result, two sites are almost completely staffed, most people are up to date on essential education, and people are communicating between sites to best meet the needs of our population. ”

Elaina Cutler, Clinical Nurse Educator, Obstetrics Northwest Region

Project Partnerships

The ROAM team continued to foster strong connections and collaboration across provincial partners in 2025–26. Regular touch points with Perinatal Services BC supported alignment on shared priorities, and team members participated in the Shared Care Perinatal Community of Practice in-person event in November 2025. ROAM also contributed to the Doctors of BC Pregnancy and Newborn Hub, offering rural equity and team-based sustainability perspectives to guide discussions on coordinated pregnancy and newborn initiatives across the Joint Collaborative Committees.

ROAM’s engagement extended to provincial leadership networks, including the Midwifery Leaders Consortium and Perinatal Services BC Steering Committee, where the team emphasized the importance of sustainable maternity care models in rural communities.

ROAM also maintained its close partnership with the UBC Coaching and Mentorship Program, working together to build and sustain a clinical network that connects providers with coaching and mentorship opportunities based on identified community learning needs. Regular collaboration with health authority partners—including site directors, regional managers, and perinatal leads—continues to ensure that ROAM’s work remains grounded in local realities and responsive to community needs.

Plans for the Future

In the year ahead, the ROAM team will prioritize supporting Local Network Coordinator recruitment to ensure all 32 ROAM communities have a dedicated individual in place for this vital role. These coordinators play an essential part in connecting teams and sustaining local momentum.

The ROAM team will continue to host regular sessions for Local Network Coordinators and Clinical Leads to strengthen relationships, share learning, and foster collaboration across sites.

Looking ahead to the 2026 BC Rural Health Conference, the ROAM team hosted in-person connection points for ROAM Clinical Leads and maternity care providers and held a clinical education breakout session focused on practical insights in rural obstetrical and maternity care.