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Anthony Yip travelled the world for his management job in IT with the global inter-banking company Swift. That all changed in 2016 when a stroke cost him not only his ability to communicate, but also his whole career.
“I lost everything,” he says, able to speak again now after years of hard work. “I lost my work, lost all of my friends, lost everything.” Despite several attempts through WorkBC, Yip says nobody would hire him.
“I didn’t want to give up, and I didn’t want to do nothing. This is very important.”
Luckily, Yip’s family physician Dr. David Fung referred him to PCN Clinical Counsellor Shirley Lai and PCN Social Worker Athina Lai. Upon assessment, these PCN clinicians looped Community Link Worker Sean Canasa into Yip’s circle of care.
“Sean and Athina have helped me a lot. They are always calling me, reminding me to go someplace, helping me in so many ways to learn how to help myself.”
Yip still carries the original list of volunteer roles that Sean had printed for consideration. One of those jobs relied on Yip’s IT experience and seemed a perfect fit. For the past year, he has been visiting Connections Community Services weekly to teach seniors how to use various technology and devices in the Digital Literacy Program for Seniors.
“It is a way that I can still help people,” says Yip.
Yip’s skills and dedication have garnered attention. Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie presented him with the nomination-based U-Roc Award from the City of Richmond as an Asset Champion for Community Support, and he was interviewed by Chris Yuen on Radio AM1470.
Beyond connecting him to this role, Canasa supported Yip with the application process including a criminal record check, and aligned him with exercise programs and educational workshops at the Richmond Stroke Recovery Centre.
“I invite doctors to send more patients to Sean because he is so kind, and because so many people need this kind of support,” says Yip. “Without him, many people wouldn’t know how to find out these things.”
The B.C. Ministry of Health has announced its plan to transform everyday health care for Richmond residents by establishing three Primary Care Networks (PCNs) designed to bring additional health care resources and support to the city.
Up to 70 new health care providers will be recruited to support the transformation, including Family Physicians (FPs), Nurse Practitioners (NPs), and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) such as Physiotherapists and Clinical Pharmacists.
“We know that many people living within Richmond have had challenges getting access to the everyday health care they need for themselves and their families,” says Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “Creating these Primary Care Networks will allow health care professionals to work together in a team-based environment to help address long-standing gaps in primary care access for people in this community.”
The three networks will be the Richmond West, Richmond City Centre and Richmond East PCNs. Each PCN partners new and existing health care professionals with the health authority and community organizations as part of a networked, team-based approach to providing care.
“This is a time of unprecedented change and opportunity for family medicine, and the Richmond Division of Family Practice is eager to work toward a more accessible and coordinated system of primary care through the development of primary care networks,” says Dr. Rachila Sharma Aucone, Board Chair, Richmond Divisions of Family Practice. “This initiative will provide team-based care to our patients and greater support to family doctors practicing in Richmond.”
Each network will provide a full range of accessible, everyday health services, such as maternity or end-of-life care, to better support patients and providers. Together, these PCNs will see community partners work to attach tens of thousands of patients in Richmond to regular primary care.
“Vancouver Coastal Health is constantly looking at how we can expand and enhance services to better care for clients in need in our communities, when and where they need it,” says Mary Ackenhusen, President and CEO of Vancouver Coastal Health. “These networks will bring together and coordinate health care providers, services, and programs, making it easier for Richmond residents to access care providers, to receive follow-up, and to connect to other services they may need. We are excited to be a part of this new model of care serving our Richmond community.”
The three networks in Richmond were developed to better meet the community’s specific needs. These priority needs include:
increased attachment for Richmond residents to a regular primary care provider
enhanced coordination of primary and community services with a focus on improving care for seniors
enhanced cultural safety and culturally appropriate care for Indigenous and immigrant residents
increased team-based resources to better meet the needs of people with mild to moderate chronic disease/conditions. These resources include health promotion services that respond to population health needs.
The Richmond Primary Care Networks initiative is a partnership between the Ministry of Health, Vancouver Coastal Health and the Richmond Division of Family Practice.
The Ministry of Health will provide approximately $15 million in annual funding to the Richmond region by the third year, as net new positions are added and as patients are attached.
