Embarking on a vision for expanded surgical services

Through a shared vision and unified efforts of providers and the community, the Haida Gwaii Hospital and Health Centre expanded surgical services for residents, while showcasing how to improve accessibility and quality of local health care services. 

Haida Gwaii Hospital and Health Centre (Xaayda Gwaay Ngaaysdll Naay) located on the remote island of Daajing Giids serves many surrounding communities. Patients often endure costly and time-consuming travel to access surgical procedures not available at the hospital.

Engaging the community for patient priorities

Dr. John Barnhill saw that there was capacity to build a stronger surgical services program for the community.

Together with his team, they first sought valuable input from community members. They heard resoundingly that vasectomy procedures were by far the most burdensome for patients in terms of travel, costs, and time, compounded by an extraordinarily long waiting list. In response, they set out to organize new services.

Engaging hospital teams to organize services

Starting from scratch, they engaged biomedical staff, nursing, and hospital administrators to support the process. The team created documents for patients, set up training for nurses, gathered materials and instruments specific to the procedure, and set up a sterile operating room.

As a result, they were able to launch with six vasectomy procedures out of the gate, with a steady influx of requests. As of May 2024, 14 procedures were completed with another 15 scheduled to follow.

A positive response, optimism for the future  

The community response has been overwhelmingly positive. Family members appreciate the opportunity to get safe, high-standard care locally, without having to travel off-island.

The project has not only boosted internal teamwork, it has stimulated conversations about service expansion to other procedures. It has also strengthened ties with the community, leading to optimism for future growth of health services on the island.
 

(Photo: L to R:  Dr John Barnhill, Dr Gordon Horner)

"Facility Engagement is quite a positive feature among our physicians in stimulating discussions on what we might offer, improvements we could consider, ways we could engage with the healthcare authority, and our patients.

Through this small project, we have opened the door for expanding offerings to Haida Gwaii community, increased our appreciation of what we can offer, generated, more positive connections with the community, and a sense of optimism for the future.

I feel very fortunate to be involved in this project and particularly appreciative of the people and resources available to us to offer services locally." – Dr John Barnhill