Session 2(b): Innovations in Pediatric and Family Health: Quality Improvement and Care Coordination in Northern Communities
October 23, 11:05am - 12:25pm | Virtual, link to come
This session will feature a series of oral presentations highlighting current research, evaluation and quality improvement projects. Each speaker will have 15 minutes to share their work, followed by 5 minutes for questions and discussion. Join us to hear in-depth presentations, gain new insights, and engage directly with presenters during the Q&A.
PRESENTATIONS:
- Title: Enhancing Pediatric Oral Health: Expanding Silver Diamine Fluoride Use in Northern Health
- Speaker: Amanda Wagman, Diana Bark, Lara Frederick
- Description: This presentation will share the outcomes of a quality improvement project aimed at increasing access to Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) treatment for newcomer children aged 0–6 in Fort St. John. Through PDSA cycles, the team tested approaches such as drop-in clinics, community partnerships, translation services, and culturally tailored outreach. The project not only achieved a 50% increase in program enrollment within two months but also offered valuable insights into reducing barriers and creating welcoming spaces for families.
- Title: CHARLiE Support for Pediatric Care in the North
- Speaker: Melissa Paquette
- Description: This presentation highlights CHARLiE (Child Health Advice in Real-time Electronically), a Real-Time Virtual Support program connecting rural healthcare providers with pediatric specialists across Northern BC. By offering immediate, compassionate virtual consultations, collaborative partnerships, and simulation-based training, CHARLiE has expanded access to culturally safe pediatric care close to home. Findings from an observational cohort study, along with provider and patient experiences, will showcase how CHARLiE has improved care quality, strengthened rural provider support, and built lasting relationships to enhance pediatric services in northern communities.
- Title: “A Massive Web of Compassion”: Understanding Care Coordination in Rural Primary Health Care for Families Experiencing Adversity
- Speaker: Erica Koopmans
- Description: This presentation explores how care coordination is shaped in rural northern BC for families with young children experiencing social and economic adversity. Drawing on a critical realist case study, the research highlights the relational and ethical nature of coordination, the role of trust and system literacy, and the importance of moral empowerment for families and providers. A new framework for understanding engagement in care coordination will be shared, along with practical insights to strengthen equity-oriented, family-centred care in underserved rural communities.
- Title: Parental Feeding Practices, Food Neophobia, and Intervention Outcomes: A Longitudinal Study with Implications for Rural Health
- Speaker: Zahra Rahmaty
- Description: This longitudinal study examines how parental feeding practices influence young children’s willingness to try new foods, dietary variety, and weight outcomes. Using data from 500 child-parent dyads, the research explores how coercive control, structure, and autonomy-supportive practices interact over time and moderate the effectiveness of a healthy habit-building intervention. Findings provide insights for designing culturally and contextually appropriate nutrition programs, including a forthcoming initiative in Northern British Columbia to support healthy eating in underserved communities.