(From Connexion Newsletter Fall/Winter 2024)

Designed to streamline primary health services through team-based care, PCNs aim to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care by fostering collaboration among various primary health care providers.

The goal is to evolve into a system where patients’ health care experiences are seamless, efficient, and supportive. By integrating Medical Office Assistants (MOAs) into the core of this system, PCNs will enhance the coordination of care, ensuring that every patient receives timely and appropriate services.

Imagine networks of primary care providers, such as family doctors and nurse practitioners, working alongside allied health professionals, like physiotherapists and dietitians, all dedicated to meeting the diverse health needs in our communities.

“Medical office assistants will be a vital thread in the fabric of the Primary Care Networks, supporting the coordination between patients, primary care, and allied health providers,” says Sarah Graham, Thompson Region PCN Manager. “The expertise and engagement of MOAs will be crucial in helping to deliver team-based care throughout our region.”

Marcy Matthew is a new Project Lead with the Division, and she is the new liaison with the MOA Network.

“I’m excited to step into this new role overseeing MOA Network engagement,” Marcy says. “It’s important to me to continue the great work established by my predecessor, and supporting MOAs through the implementation of PCN will be an exciting addition to this role. I look forward to building on these strong foundations and working together in the coming year.”

Marcy is coming off her first engagement session, a holiday-themed MOA appreciation event in November.

“I met a lot of new faces,” she says. “It was great to celebrate our past year’s successes and provide an opportunity to strengthen our partnership, share valuable educational resources for Primary Care Networks, and listen to feedback.”

Makenzi Irwin, the Division’s Attachment Coordinator, is no stranger to the day-to-day clinic experiences of MOAs.

“MOAs balance compassion and efficiency to ensure quality care, they are the vital connection between patients and the health care system,” Makenzi says. “My own career path from being a Medical Office Assistant to an Attachment Coordinator has ignited my passion to improve local access for unattached patients and enhance team-based care. MOAs will help shape patient experiences as we get further into our regional Primary Care Networks.”

Chelsey McKinney, also a former MOA, is now a Practice Improvement Coach, Engagement and Quality Improvement, with Doctors of BC.

“As a previous MOA, I have always held such a soft spot for the profession and know that they are often underappreciated,” Chelsey says. “In the shift toward Primary Care Networks, the role of Medical Office Assistants remains extremely vital. MOAs are not only the first point of contact but also the steady pillars ensuring that patient care remains coordinated, accessible, and efficient while still supporting the integration of teams and ensuring smooth operations.”

Connie Walker, an MOA and the producer of the quarterly MOA Newsletter, says that she looks to the Division to play a vital and supportive role in empowering Medical Office Assistants. The Division offers educational resources and professional development, bringing essential tools to help streamline the operations of family practice clinics.

“These resources enable MOAs to manage practices more efficiently, handle medical billing, and support complex services,” Connie says. “MOAs are crucial in ensuring smooth clinic operations, and the implementation of the PCN should be no different as the Division enhances our capabilities, helping us ensure that family physicians and our teams can provide high-quality care with efficiency and expertise.”

Sarah says that Primary Care Networks are essentially about creating a health care environment where every patient feels valued, and every caregiver is empowered to provide the best possible care.

“PCN is an exciting development, and MOAs will be a connective tissue that binds the PCN framework, ensuring every patient encounter reflects the values of collaboration and care at the heart of this initiative,” she says.