Maternity physicians and midwives will work collaboratively at the EPCC to provide comprehensive, high-quality, and personalized perinatal care.
Encompass Pregnancy Care Cranbrook (EPCC) has welcomed two local registered midwives into its clinic, strengthening support for maternity patients throughout their pregnancy and post-partum journey.
Registered midwives (RMs) Anne Leblond and Carolyn Thibeault will join physicians at EPCC, a team-based pregnancy care practice in Cranbrook’s Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC). EPCC was launched in May 2022 to serve a growing need for maternity health care providers in Cranbrook and Kimberley, following collaboration between Interior Health, Ktunaxa Nation, and the East Kootenay Division of Family Practice.
It is part of the East Kootenay Primary Care Network - a group of team-based care providers in the region.
“There is a shortage of maternity health care providers in rural communities across Canada,” said Jaquie van Zyl, program manager at the East Kootenay Division of Family Practice. “It is a testament to the strength and creativity of our regional medical community that we were able to move forward a new shared care model to maternity care in a way that benefits both patients and providers and helps to stabilize and sustain perinatal services in our region.”
A team-based approach to care means maternity patients can get support from pregnancy care providers throughout their pregnancy and postpartum journey, enabling them to benefit from the expertise of both midwives and physicians.
With EPCC part of the primary care network and located in the Urgent and Primary Care Centre, perinatal patients also have one-stop access to team-based care, such as mental wellness clinicians, physiotherapists, social workers, and more.
“We are excited about the benefits this integration will bring to our patients and our local healthcare community,” said Dr Tanya Burch, physician lead, EPCC. “We want current and future patients to know: You are welcomed here. Our pregnancy care team is here for you, we are connected and strong, we collaboratively support your choices for care, and we will work together to provide comprehensive, high-quality pregnancy care to you and your growing family.”
No matter which pregnancy care provider patients see during their visit, they will be cared for to the same high standards of care and compassion. Before joining the EPCC, Leblond and Thibeault spent 18 years at their practice, East Kootenay Midwives.
“Anne and I are looking forward to working as part of the integrated team of pregnancy care providers to offer safe, personalized care to local families,” Thibeault said. “And we would like to send a huge thank you to the community and the families who we had the honour of caring for over the last 18 years. It is with tears of gratitude that we say ‘goodbye’ to our former patients and midwife practice, and with excited smiles that we greet our new colleagues and patients ‘hello’ at the EPCC.”
Encompass Pregnancy Care clinic is accepting new patients from Cranbrook and surrounding communities. Patients can receive pregnancy care by contacting the Urgent and Primary Care Centre at 250 420-2323 or visiting www.encompasspregnancy.ca for more info.