Rural Site Visits

In 2024, our Engagement and Outreach work evolved significantly. The Rural Site Visits Project has officially wrapped up in its original form. Through reflection and learning, the program has evolved into a broader Engagement & Outreach approach, including the Rural Voices Initiative which supports communities to come together, identify shared health and wellness priorities, and take action in ways that reflect their unique needs and strengths.

About Rural Site Visits

The Rural Site Visits Project was grounded in listening and relationship-building with rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across BC.

The aim of the Rural Site Visits project was to:

Build relationships between RCCbc and rural communities across British Columbia
Give rural community partners, including rural doctors and other healthcare professionals, a voice in informing provincial health policy
Contribute to rural health research in British Columbia
Enable rural community members to share locally grown rural health innovations

Project Highlights

What we heard over the course of this project has led to meaningful impact across the system. Some highlights include:

7

years of project implementation

154

rural communities visited in British Columbia

437

meetings with local community members

System Collaboration, Innovation and Knowledge Sharing

Contributed to initiatives such as Real-Time Virtual Support (RTVS), rural transportation funding during COVID-19, and the First Nations Doctor of the Day program
Strengthened connections between communities to rural networks, resources, grants, and events
Supported rural innovators to present at the BC Rural Health Conference

Cultural Safety and Reconciliation

Co-developed a Two-Eyed Seeing framework with an Indigenous Research Consultant as a direct result from participant feedback to evolve the Site Visits outreach and engagement process.
Created a workshop series with Harley Eagle focused on addressing racism and supporting culturally safe engagement for the Site Visitors team.

Research and Advocacy

Published in BMJ Open on the process of Site Visits and overarching themes
Published in Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine on Anti-Indigenous Racism in BC health care
Reported regularly to the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues (JSC), our funders, on emerging themes and recommendations to help influence policy change and improve programs.
Coverage in a Global News feature, helping bring attention to rural healthcare experiences and priorities
Shared findings through presentations to BC Quality Forum, BC Rural Health Research Network, Health Authorities, Towards Unity for Health (TUFH) Conference, UNBC Health Research Institute Seminar Series, BC Rural Health Conference and the First Nations Health Authority Caucus

Relationships and Community Impact

After a visit, we were invited to an annual planning day with Simpcw First Nation. We co-developed a video, and presented at the 2022 Towards Unity for Health (TUFH) Conference.
Recognition of communities like Nisga’a Valley, Sicamous, and Hope through the BC Rural Health Awards

Community Feedback Reports

RCCbc provided bi-annual community feedback reports on the project’s progress and shared innovative solutions to health challenges discovered during the visits. Each report was anonymized and encompasses feedback from all rural communities engaged since the beginning of the project.

Specialized Reports

Various organizations and projects requested specific information on their population groups to better understand and support their population needs. Each report is anonymized and encompasses feedback from all rural communities engaged since the beginning of the Project.

Map of Visited Communities

Feature Stories & Media

Global TV

Massive, multi-year research project takes stock of BC’s rural healthcare

BMJ Open

Groundbreaking work of Site Visits project highlighted in BMJ Open paper

RCCbc Newsletter

Bring an open heart: Cultural safety training inspires physician’s journey of self-discovery