What is SPRUCe?
Sustaining Pediatrics in Rural and Underserved Communities (SPRUCe) is a new network developed by pediatricians Dr. Kirsten Miller and Dr. Jenny Retallack with the support of the Rural Coordination Centre of BC. The goal of the network is to connect community pediatric providers (pediatricians, family physicians, residents, and nurse practitioners) who have an interest in supporting and sustaining excellence in pediatric care in rural and remote communities across British Columbia.
Through SPRUCe, rural and remote pediatric care providers in BC will have access to a network of pediatric providers from across the province who have similar working environments. The development of strong inter-regional relationships will enable sharing of information and peer support. The network will also facilitate the development and implementation of strategies with the primary aim of ensuring that high quality, sustainable pediatric care is available to all children, youth and families in rural and remote BC. Pediatric care providers living in non-rural communities who are interested in rural medicine will also have the chance to connect with rural and remote pediatric care providers to support the provision of rural pediatric care in BC.
SPRUCe Pediatrician Map
In working to support rural, remote and isolated Pediatrics in the province, SPRUCe has developed an interactive map identifying the names and locations of Pediatricians in smaller communities across BC. This map is designed to allow both pediatricians and pediatric sub-specialists to easily identify a community based pediatrician close to their patient’s home, allowing greater ease in follow-up, consultation and communication. Currently, only local community based pediatricians in smaller or remote communities are identified.
This map is a continuing work in progress. The goal is to add the locations and pediatricians who provide Pediatric outreach to smaller and remote communities in BC. If you are a Pediatrician currently involved in outreach, please email spruce@rccbc.ca so that we can add you on the map. Similarly, if you identify any information as being out of date, incorrect, or would like to be removed from the map, please let us know.
SPRUCe Newsletter
Keep up with the ever-changing world of with new and emerging events in pediatrics community. Our newsletters feature upcoming CME, reflections from previous graduates, virtual coffee sessions, and more!
Published Work
Supporting consulting paediatrics in rural, remote, or vulnerable communities in British Columbia: Time for national collaboration
Authors: Drs. Kirsten Miller, Alexander Benny, and Jennifer Retallack
Journal: Paediatrics and Child Health
Details: https://academic.oup.com/pch/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pch/pxab043/6328715?guestAccessKey=59103e67-8c80-4ec4-9643-7177bf982f06
Upcoming CME Accredited Events
A Deep Dive into Pediatric Point of Care Ultrasound
Date: Thursday, November 25, 2021 from 7pm – 8:30pm PST
Location: Online event via Zoom
Accreditation: 1 MOC Credit/hour
Details: Join us as a dive deeper into Pediatric Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS). This course overview will go over how POCUS improves clinical outcomes in the critically ill child, the sick infant, and in general pediatric care. Dr. Lambos will demonstrate the utility of POCUS in improving outcomes for the family as a unit. She’ll also show go over the benefits of POCUS in cost savings and resource management within the health care system, andin transition of care to a tertiary center. Dr. Lambos is a general pediatrician in Prince Albert, and a Clinical Assistant Professor in Pediatrics at the University of Saskatchewan. She trained in Pediatric POCUS at the Hospital for Sick Kids, and is a Fellow of the Ultrasound Leadership Academy. She uses pediatric POCUS regularly to support her clinical practice.
Register: Link here
Essentials for Reaching Past the Cycle of Trauma & ACEs: Part 1 of Healing Trauma
Date: Monday, Oct 18, 2021, 10:00 am -12:45 pm PST (part a, with an extra 15 minutes meet and greet); Monday, Oct 25, 2021 10:00am -noon PST (part b), and Monday, November 1, 10:00 am-12:00 pm noon, PST
Location: Online event
Accreditation: 2.0 Mainpro+ / 1 MOC credit/hour
Details: The unspoken aspects of the ACE Questionnaire, and how this may affect responses to ACE questionnaires, will be used to introduce important aspects of Complex Trauma (aka Complex PTSD) that are little known among physicians, yet indispensable for proper interpretation of ACE scores, as well as for working towards healing for trauma survivors. Core neurobiologically-based point-of-care skills that physicians can master to help heal trauma, or to negotiate trauma-rooted difficult behaviours, will be explained and demonstrated. These include point-of-care mindfulness and mentalization tools that we can apply at work or in our personal lives. This learning event is aimed at providing exposure to an initial skill set required to work more effectively with survivors in their quest to “heal past the cycle of trauma”. Registration is limited to keep a small number of participants.
Register: Link here
For more information on SPRUCe, please email SPRUCe@rccbc.ca.
