Rural Coordination Centre of BC - RCCbc

09/04/2025

Upcoming Rural Rounds! Designed for rural health providers and physicians supporting rural communities, these sessions provide up-to-date and relevant medical education through interactive Zoom presentations.⁠
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We're proud to offer Rural Rounds and Rural POCUS Rounds in partnership with UBC CPD. Take a look at what's coming up as we head into fall:⁠
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➡️ Rural POCUS Rounds: Foot & Ankle with Dr. Frank Johnson⁠
September 19 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm⁠
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➡️ Rural Rounds: Supporting Patients with Chronic Pain in Rural Communities with Dr. Sean Ebert and Gregg Moor⁠
October 16 @ 7:45 am - 9:00 am⁠
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➡️ Rural POCUS Rounds: MSK Rheumatology with Dr. Mo Bardi⁠
October 24 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm⁠
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Find all upcoming events and how to register: https://rccbc.ca/connect/events/calendar

08/31/2025

Happy fifth anniversary to our MaBAL team!

The Maternity and Babies Advice Line (MaBAL) was launched in August 2020 to provide maternity and obstetrical support to rural providers across BC.

MaBAL supports pre-conception, prenatal, intrapartum and postpartum presentations, for both moms and newborns. The team can also help with other women’s health issues such as contraception.

This summer, MaBAL has been busier than ever with rural maternity cases. MaBAL Co-Lead, Dr. Amy Sawchuk, reports: “We have had a really busy summer supporting babies being delivered all across the province. And this has all been done in a resource-strapped environment with trademark RTVS kindness. A huge thanks to our great team!”

MaBAL is one of five Instant Access RTVS pathways administered by RCCbc. If you want to read more about MaBAL visit https://rccbc.ca/initiatives/rtvs/mabal/

A story about MaBAL’s support of maternal health in rural, remote and First Nations communities can be found at https://rccbc.ca/story/zoom-in-the-exam-room-mabals-timely-support-improves-delivery-of-prenatal-care/

08/30/2025

Those who guessed this week’s Where Are We Wednesday community as Valemount were right! Let’s take a closer look at this vibrant mountain village in British Columbia’s Robson Valley. ⁠
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Nestled at the meeting point of three great mountain ranges, the Rockies, Cariboo, and Monashee, Valemount lies just south of Mount Robson, the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies. The community sits on the traditional territory of the Simpcw First Nation, part of the Secwépemc peoples, who have stewarded the land and waters here for generations.⁠ ⁠
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The community’s name, which means “Valley in the Mountains,” was officially chosen in 1927 after residents submitted suggestions to the railway. Its location made it a key stop for the Canadian National Railway, and today it remains a welcoming hub for travellers heading through the Rockies.⁠ ⁠
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Known historically for its forestry roots, Valemount is now also exploring opportunities in geothermal energy, which could make it one of the first geothermal-powered communities in BC. It’s also a hub for outdoor adventure, with access to hiking, stargazing, Kinbasket Lake, and local events like Valemountain Days that bring the community together.⁠ ⁠
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Health care in Valemount is anchored by the Valemount Health Centre, where RCCbc’s Executive Director Dr. Ray Markham practices alongside Dr. James Card, RCCbc’s Medical Lead for the Rural Medicine Interest Longitudinal Mentorship program. Our RTVS Virtual Medical Office Assistant, Karen Shepherd, also calls Valemount home.⁠ ⁠
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RCCbc has long-standing ties here with our team visiting Valemount in 2018 as part of the Rural Site Visits Project, and more recently our Northern Node members met in the community for team building and strategic planning.⁠ ⁠
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📸 Photos 1-2 taken during a RCCbc Site Visit to Valemount. Photos 3-4 taken by RCCbc staff member, Bree Loeffler.

08/29/2025

As the long weekend is upon us and the first hints of fall arrive, preparedness comes into focus. Weathering the Storm was a summer symposium hosted by the Rural Health Services Research Network of BC (RHSRNbc), part of the RCCbc network. The symposium examined how rural communities prepare for fires, floods and extreme heat, highlighting practical, low-tech solutions that work. Read our latest post offering a quick overview of the event and the full report and video series.

Read and watch: https://rccbc.ca/story/weathering-the-storm-rural-communities-on-the-road-to-resilience/

Rural Health Services Research Network of BC

Across British Columbia and beyond, rural and Indigenous communities have already felt the strain of wildfires, floods, and extreme heat. These experiences have shown both the fragility of systems and the strength of local networks of care. Weathering the Storm, a symposium hosted by the Rural Healt...

08/29/2025

The next Rural Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Rounds will focus on musculoskeletal (MSK) rheumatology.

On Oct. 24, Dr. Mo Bardi will explore how ultrasound supports the diagnosis of rheumatologic conditions in limited-resource settings. The session includes a presentation, case studies and a live Q&A.

Register to enhance your skills: https://bit.ly/47GZkZK



Doctors of BC Rural Coordination Centre of BC - RCCbc

08/28/2025

Save the Date 📆 Join us May 29 - 31, 2026 for the Rural Health Conference!

Following a fantastic conference in northern BC earlier this summer, we're excited to return to Prince George once again for 2026!

Get practice-ready CME with rural colleagues, reconnect in easy going meet-ups and shared moments, and enjoy a family-friendly setting with a rural-community feel.

This annual gathering delivers up-to-date rurally relevant content, providing a vital source of continuing medical education for practicing physicians, IMGs, residents, medical students and healthcare professionals.

In partnership with UBC CPD, our 2026 agenda is currently in development and will be announced ahead of registration early next year. Attendees can expect more of our popular hands-on skills building workshops, engaging sessions delivered by leading health providers, and a rare opportunity to connect in-person with fellow rural providers.

While we may live, work and travel from remote communities, at you'll find a community that's anything but isolated 💙

🩺 Stay tuned for more details at https://bcrhc.ca and mark your calendar for May 2026!

For enquiries please reach out to the team at conference@rccbc.ca.

08/27/2025

Where Are We Wednesday 📍 You have all been amazing at guessing our featured communities recently. Let’s see if you can keep the streak alive with this one!⁠
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🔹 This small village is tucked between three mountain ranges: the Rockies, the Cariboo, and the Monashees.⁠
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🔹This community is home to the only snowmobile-assisted ski hill in the world, where skiers are towed uphill by sled.⁠
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🔹The highest peak in the Canadian Rockies is located near here, offering stunning views and hiking opportunities.⁠
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🔹 It is known as being a winter wonderland, with an average snowfall of over 10 feet per year.⁠
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🔹 There are hundreds of kilometres of groomed trails and backcountry areas, making this a popular destination for snowmobiling, ATVing and mountain biking.⁠
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Do you know this high-elevation hub of natural beauty, history, and mountain culture? Tell us where you think we are this week in the comments 👇️⁠
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📸 Photos 1-3: Jenna Benbaruj, a third-year medical student in the Fraser Medical Cohort with UBC Faculty of Medicine. Photo 4: RCCbc staff member, Bree Loeffler.

08/26/2025

Are you a BC rural healthcare provider looking to reduce stress and enhance your practice through mindfulness? Join our 8-week online Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program led by Dr. Rahul Gupta, running from October 1st to November 19th with a full day session on November 9th. The program offers free online sessions via Zoom for MDs, NPs, and midwives living or practicing in rural BC.

Through evidence-based mindfulness practices, participants can:
✨ Restore vitality and professional agency
✨ Recognize and address implicit bias
✨ Better navigate uncertainty in healthcare settings
✨ Enhance decision-making capabilities

Past participants have reported transformative experiences and improved interactions in both their professional and personal lives.

Dr. Rahul Gupta is a physician, certified MBSR teacher, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, and lead of the Mindfulness in Medicine initiative.

🔗 For more program details and registration, visit: https://rccbc.ca/initiatives/mindfulness-in-medicine/

08/22/2025

📆 Save the date! Join us in celebrating Canada's National Rural Health Week on October 20-24, 2025. ⁠
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The week will highlight the unique rewards of rural practice and showcase the people and passion behind healthcare across the country.⁠
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Show your support for the dedication, innovation and impact of healthcare providers in rural communities across Canada. ⁠
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Find out how to get involved in this year’s campaign by sharing a glimpse of your life outside of work. Visit https://ruralhealthweekcanada.ca ⁠
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Join us in celebrating and supporting the vital role of rural health care providers. About National Rural Health Week National Rural Health Week is a celebration of the dedication and impact of health care providers in rural communities across Canada. SAVE THE DATE: Rural Health Week will take place...

08/21/2025

✨ Join us for an interactive and experiential online Conversations That Matter workshop, hosted through the Thriving Project, where we cultivate open-hearted connection and practice essential skills that help us build meaningful relationships and support systems at work. This free four-week virtual series will take place on Thursdays, November 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 7:00-8:30pm PT via Zoom.
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Rural physicians Drs. Tandi Wilkinson and Svetlana Hadikin will facilitate thoughtful conversations and transformative experiences that lead to an embodied understanding of topics such as failure, shame, vulnerability, compassion, and peer support. Expect to be moved and inspired by the authentic contributions of participants as we draw on the collective wisdom in the room. Don't miss this opportunity to thrive together in community. ⁠

This workshop is free for rural healthcare providers (Doctor, resident, nurse practitioner, midwife) in BC⁠.⁠
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🔗 Learn more and register: https://rccbc.ca/initiatives/thriving-project/ ⁠
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08/20/2025

🏥 At RCCbc, we're passionate about improving the health of people and communities in rural BC. Join our physician-led network that cultivates relationships, facilitates rural health discussions, and develops healthcare leaders across British Columbia.

🔍 Now Hiring: RTVS Peer-to-Peer Technician

We're seeking a tech-savvy professional to join our Real-Time Virtual Support (RTVS) team! You'll be the technical backbone supporting our peer-to-peer services, working directly with our Clinical Services Manager and RTVS team.

What you'll do:
- Provide technical support to internal teams, healthcare providers, and partners
- Lead technology onboarding and training for virtual healthcare delivery
- Maintain and optimize technical operations for our peer-to-peer platform

🔗 Learn more and apply: https://rccbc.ca/about-us/careers/rtvs-peer-to-peer-technician/

08/19/2025

Earlier this year, RCCbc launched the Rural Voices Initiative to support rural and remote communities in setting up local, community-led partnership tables across BC.

These tables bring together people from across the community to share knowledge, identify common goals, and take action on local health and wellness issues.

🤝 This initiative marks the evolution of RCCbc’s long-running Site Visits Project, while bringing the momentum of the Rural Voices Gathering—which saw over 800 people join conversations around community-driven healthcare solutions.

Building on the insights and connections from the Gathering, the Rural Voices Initiative is the next phase in RCCbc’s journey to support communities in creating space to lead their own conversations and initiatives, using strengths-based frameworks that emphasize collaboration, relationship-building, and practical solutions.

📧 To talk to someone about bringing the Rural Voices Initiative to your community, reach out to ruralvoices@rccbc.ca

🔗 Learn more about support available through the Rural Voices Initiative at https://rccbc.ca/rural-voices-initiative

Together, we can ensure that rural communities continue to lead the way in designing healthcare solutions that truly reflect their needs, strengths, and aspirations.