Indigenous Patient Navigators support patients, families and staff while respecting local traditions, protocols, and practices to ensure culturally safe health care services.

What to expect

Indigenous Patient Navigators provide direct patient and family support, including access to Elders, traditional ceremonies, and traditional healing practices, as well as support and education to health-care team members caring for Indigenous patients. The services provided by IPNs include:

  • consultation with health care staff on health care planning for patients;
  • resource/contact information on Indigenous-specific resources and referrals for health-care teams;
  • coaching and consultation on Indigenous patient care;
  • traditional cultural support – smudging, traditional medicines;
  • talk with patients and family on health-care needs; and
  • Indigenous Cultural Safety education.

Lower Mainland

Hours: 

8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays

Urban Indigenous Patient Navigator

Phone: 1 (877) 875-1131

Email: info.indigenoushealth@vch.ca

Vancouver General Hospital, Richmond Hospital, UBC Hospital, G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre and George Pearson Centre

Phone: (604) 314-8069

Email: info.indigenoushealth@vch.ca

Lions Gate Hospital

Phone: (604) 789-7256

Email: info.indigenoushealth@vch.ca

qathet General Hospital

Hours: 

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday

Phone: (604) 414-4128

Email: jessica.hackett@vch.ca

ƛ̓uxválásu̓ilas Heiltsuk Hospital

Hours: 
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday

Phone: (604) 786-1736
Email: cynthia.peal@vch.ca

Sechelt (shíshálh) Hospital

Hours: 
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday

Hospital referrals:
Consult 'Aboriginal/Indigenous' via Cerner

Community referrals
Contact Amanda Dixon to request support.
Phone: (604) 886-8602
Email: amanda.dixon@vch.ca

Bella Coola General Hospital

Hours: 

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday

Phone: (236) 589-4717

Email: norma.mack@vch.ca

Find this service near you

OR
  • Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN) at Bella Coola General Hospital

    1025 Elcho Street Bella Coola
  • Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN) at qathet General Hospital

    5000 Joyce Avenue Powell River
  • Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN) at Sechelt | shíshálh Hospital

    5544 Sunshine Coast Highway Sechelt
  • Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN) at ƛ̓uxválásu̓ilas Heiltsuk Hospital

    88 Waglisla Street Bella Bella
  • Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre

    4255 Laurel Street Vancouver
  • Long term care homes

    Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) at George Pearson Centre

    700 West 57th Avenue Vancouver
  • Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) at Lions Gate Hospital

    231 East 15th Street North Vancouver
  • Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) at Richmond Hospital

    7000 Westminster Highway Richmond
  • Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) at UBC Hospital

    2211 Wesbrook Mall Vancouver
  • Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) at Vancouver General Hospital

    899 West 12th Avenue Vancouver