BY SSI PRIMARY CARE NETWORK
South Island Division of Family Practice
While it can be difficult to see improvements being made to healthcare systems from the outside, a new partnership between local family doctors and other agencies is poised to make a difference on Salt Spring Island.
Since joining the South Island Division of Family Practice (SIDFP) in March of 2024, Salt Spring physicians and partner groups have been engaged in the process of creating a primary care network (PCN) for the island. The following article from the SIDFP explains how a PCN operates, the benefits to our community and the importance of people without a family doctor on the island to use the Health Connect Registry to indicate their need for one.
How PCNs work
A PCN is a partnership between local family doctors, the Division of Family Practice, the First Nations Health Authority, Island Health and other community organizations. Together, they work to improve access to team-based, comprehensive primary care in your community.
Each PCN is guided by a multi-year service plan, developed collaboratively by local physicians and partners. Once approved, this plan provides funding and resources to support the recruitment of new doctors, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals.
PCNs bring together family doctors and nurse practitioners, known as primary care providers along with allied health professionals, who work as a team to deliver long-term, personalized care. These providers:
• Use a team-based approach to enhance patient care.
• Support one another, drawing on their unique strengths and skills.
• Connect patients with specialized services, especially for vulnerable populations.
• Improve access to care by helping more people find a regular provider.
Salt Spring Island joins
SIDFP was established in 2010 to support family doctors in the South Island region. In March 2024, Salt Spring Island physicians joined the SIDFP and started PCN planning.
With support from the SIDFP and PCN, and in collaboration with the Province of British Columbia, the Ministry of Health and Doctors of BC, the Salt Spring Island Primary Care Network (SSIPCN) Service Plan was approved. This plan brings added resources to the island, including:
• Family doctors and nurse practitioners
• Social workers and mental health professionals;
• Registered nurses and Indigenous wellness providers.
These professionals will work together in local clinics using a team-based care model.
Community benefits
Salt Spring Island residents will benefit from the team-based care model through faster access to care, more personalized and coordinated support, and improved continuity with a consistent care team. This inclusive approach addresses a wide range of health needs — physical, mental and social — while also supporting vulnerable populations such as seniors, youth and Indigenous community members. By sharing the workload among providers, the model helps reduce burnout and strengthens the long-term sustainability of healthcare on the island.
Local Working Group
In fall 2024, the Salt Spring Island PCN Working Group began implementing the community’s Primary Care Network plan. While supported by funding for 11 full-time equivalent positions to enhance primary care services, the island still faces major challenges. These include a shortage of healthcare providers, limited clinic space and a lack of affordable housing — all compounded by the island’s rural geography. These barriers make it difficult to recruit and retain staff or expand services. The working group is actively collaborating with the community and partners to address these issues, though progress will require sustained funding and long-term commitment.
Next Steps
One of the group’s first priorities is to reduce the attachment gap — the number of people without a family doctor or nurse practitioner.
To help, SSIPCN is promoting the Health Connect Registry, a centralized waitlist for people seeking a primary care provider. When a provider in the community becomes available to take on patients in their practice, the PCN team will contact those on the list.
If you or someone you care for needs a family doctor or nurse practitioner, please register at Health Connect Registry. Or to learn more about the next steps and how to manage your registration, visit After you register.
Transformation takes time and will happen over the course of the coming months and years. More opportunities to learn about SSIPCN will be available this fall.
Visit our website: southislanddivision.ca.