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LOG IN to the provincial Divisions of Family Practice website for access to UpToDate, which is provided free-of-charge as a member benefit to Richmond Division members
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 Richmond Division of Family Practice launched its new website today to strengthen communication for member Family Physicians, Medical Office Assistants, partners, and patients.
“The new website is the culmination of almost a year of dedicated effort,” says Richmond Division Executive Director Jennifer West. “We have connected with our membership and community stakeholders to ensure that we create a communication tool that is useful, adds value, and reflects the diverse services and supports offered by the Division.”
Since inception, the 35 Divisions of Family Practice throughout the province have operated under the umbrella website provided by the Family Practice Services Committee.
“Richmond was among the first communities selected to implement a Primary Care Network in B.C.,” says West. “During the last four years, we have outgrown our website and platform. Our new site, developed with leading edge technology, will better support the dynamic PCN team’s robust information needs.”
Visitors can expect streamlined navigation, a wealth of resources, and clarity around the organization’s scope and mission. The site also includes an education section for patients and providers to learn how Richmond’s Primary Care Networks are shifting the focus to preventative, team-based care.
“It’s a first and critical step,” she adds. “We now have more and better tools available to connect with people. The many stakeholders in our health care system have shared goals to promote health system evolution and better patient care for Richmond residents. The Richmond Division is proud to present our new website for our members and community.”
Visit the Richmond Division of Family Practice’s new site.
The Richmond Division of Family Practice’s MOA Network surpassed 170 members in 2023, solidifying its role to elevate the profession for local Medical Office Assistants.
Program Coordinator Ailin Chen, pivotal to Network strategy, event organization, and clinic outreach, has witnessed the growth first-hand. She and her colleagues have hosted 19 events for MOAs since the Network’s inception in 2020, and membership now includes 171 MOAs in 60 Richmond clinics.
“We recognized that a professional association for local MOAs was a critical missing piece,” says Chen. “It’s wonderful to see how the community has embraced the Network, and that it is providing so much value.”
The MOA Network is critical to enhancing the patient experience by boosting MOA skills, optimizing practices, and enabling quality improvement. These strategies, in turn, increase family physician capacity, which allows them to focus on patient care.
Key strategies include fostering camaraderie, professional development, skill building, idea exchange, and community partnership. The Network addresses common challenges that MOAs face, provides a platform for support, and connects MOAs to resources through Doctors of BC, Vancouver Coastal Health, Richmond Public Health, the Family Practice Services Committee Practice Support Program, Pathways BC, and local services.
Richmond’s MOA Network team collaborates with other Divisions of Family Practice throughout the province to address industry issues, and updates members via the twice-monthly Richmond MOA Minute newsletter.
“I’m proud of the Richmond MOA Network,” says Executive Director Jennifer West. “This group is rapidly gaining a reputation in the province as a model for other communities.”
Events and collaborations with health care organizations such as LifeLabs, Brooke Radiology, and ImmunizeBC highlight the Network’s commitment to connect MOAs with essential services. Chen says the Network will continue to focus on skill building, partnerships, and raising awareness about the value of MOAs.
“We are developing strategies to have a broader impact on the community and to strengthen the industry’s reputation overall,” she says.
Coppersmith Medical Clinic Manager Jessy Flores appreciates how the MOA Network provides opportunities to engage with fellow MOAs, health care professionals, and support groups.
“These connections have exposed me to diverse perspectives and innovative ideas about issues that are prevalent in our field,” says Flores. She adds that the Network facilitates the group to identify solutions for common challenges in Richmond clinics.
Part of the Network’s success is because Chen and her colleagues try to make participation fun.
“There have been so many wonderful moments since I became part of the MOA Network, but the recent Holiday Social stands out as the most memorable,” says Flores. “This event offered an enjoyable atmosphere for MOAs and the RDFP team. We got to engage in social interaction through games and activities, delicious food, and a warm cup of hot chocolate.”
