Enhanced Skills Program: Indigenous Health Urban Aboriginal Health Goals and Objectives

Medical Expert:

The trainee will be able to:

1. Demonstrate skills and knowledge in primary care of Indigenous people in the ambulatory care setting in an urban locale.
2. Demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to the specific health issues that are most relevant to the Indigenous populations of Canada.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the impact and correlation of the various medical, social and spiritual determinants of health and well-being on First Nations, Inuit and Metis (Indigenous) peoples.
4. Demonstrate currency with new information and research in the field of Indigenous health.
5. Demonstrates effective procedural skills of discipline (including technical competence, knowledge of indications and risks).

Communicator:

The trainee will be able to:

1. Work cross culturally and with interpreters.
2. Work inter-professionally, including with Aboriginal healers.
3. Demonstrate knowledge and skills regarding cultural safety as it pertains to Indigenous people.
4. Display effective, timely, professional and non-judgemental communication skills (both written and verbal), including: communicating with patients and families, communicating with other professionals, verbal presentation of assessments, documentation, and use of EMR systems.

Collaborator:

The trainee will be able to:

1. Function effectively in a multidisciplinary team to provide high quality care to Indigenous populations. These team members would include physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, clerical staff, traditional healers, therapists, pharmacists, and medical specialists.
2. Work inter-professionally, including with Aboriginal healers.
3. Collaborate with community agencies as required.
4. Demonstrate awareness of, and work with, community and health resources and support systems available to Indigenous communities.

Manager:

The trainee will be able to:

1. Carry out appropriate clinical services in the context of limited resources.
2. Demonstrate effective organizational abilities (incl. time management, handling multiple responsibilities).

Health Advocate:

The trainee will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the Indigenous patient’s view of illness, how the community is part of the patient, and “empowerment.”
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of discrimination, racism, and government policies on the health care of Indigenous populations.
3. Assess, plan, provide and integrate care for specific Indigenous populations appropriate to the patients’ locales.
4. Establish and ensure appropriate support systems and follow-up for sustained culturally appropriate care.

Scholar:

The trainee will be able to:

1. Provide teaching to colleagues, students and residents about Indigenous health issues.
2. Describe the history of Aboriginal peoples in Canada, including the history of colonization, residential schools and political issues, and how this history affects current health and social conditions of the Indigenous population.
3. Critically appraise medical information and its sources, and apply the relevant information to medical practice.
4. Employ critical analysis skills in evaluating the delivery of health care to Indigenous peoples.
5. Keep up to date with new information and research in the field of Indigenous health.

Professional:

The trainee will be able to:

1. Demonstrate self-reflection skills that include an analysis of one’s own response to the histories and contemporary environments of Indigenous peoples.
2. Demonstrate a commitment to patients and their families, colleagues, their profession and to society through ethical and reflective practice.