What is Primary Care? 

Primary care is your initial point of contact in BC’s health system, supporting community health, treating common illnesses, managing chronic conditions and providing end-of-life care.  

Primary Care Providers (PCPs) include professionals like Family Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, allied health (ex. social workers, counsellors, registered nurses), as well as non-clinical providers such as community services or caregiver and neighbourly support within the patient’s circle of care. 

 
What is a Primary Care Network? 

The Government of B.C., through the Ministry of Health, and all their partners, are implementing primary care networks across the province to redesign our system of primary health care to work better for patients and health care providers. 

This is a response to patients who have said it is too difficult to access care and to navigate the health care system. At the same time, providers are also looking for support to manage patient care and workloads, while allied health may not be working to their full scope of practice. 

A primary care network links together teams of health-care providers with other community organizations and services, who together streamline and coordinate patient services, to better support the unique primary care needs of the entire region. 

 

What is the Sunshine Coast PCN? 

Over the next four years, the Sunshine Coast PCN plans to change local primary health care services by introducing more than 18 new primary care positions. This expansion is centered on team-based care, extended and virtual hours, improved access, more mental health support, patient navigation, culturally sensitive care, and integration with the Health Connect Registry centralized patient waitlist.  

The Sunshine Coast PCN is a partnership between the Sunshine Coast Division of Family Practice, Vancouver Coastal Health, shíshálh Nation, and Pender Harbour Health Centre, in collaboration with the community to improve population health on the Sunshine Coast and the swiya of the shíshálh Nation. 

 

 
Sunshine Coast Primary Care Network Locations 

shíshálh Nation Community Services Health Department	Arbutus Medical Clinic
Gibsons Medical Clinic	Cowrie Medical Clinic
Upstream Family Medicine	Pender Harbour Health Centre

 

Sunshine Coast approved PCN resources 

• 3.25 FTE* social workers 

• 2.35 FTE counsellors 

• A Nation elder and community champion 

• 1 FTE community pharmacist for medication reviews  

• 6.33 FTE registered nurses (with specialties) 

• Unlimited new-to-practice PCN Family Physicians and Nurse Practitioners  

*FTE = full time equivalent