French Language Service Delivery Model
The RHA CENTRAL recognizes that designation of bilingual health sites alone cannot provide residents in its region with ready access to all of the health services in French that they may require. As such, the RHA Central has developed a service delivery model that builds on the strengths of existing service providers and resources to coordinate available French language services and to build capacity in the organization and in the community.
To facilitate and improve access to bilingual health care and resources, this model includes the following key components:
Équipe de santé bilingue (Bilingual Health Team)
The Équipe de santé bilingue is composed of a core group of primary health professionals. The RHA Central is also identifying other health professionals, organizations, and service providers within its region that are capable of providing bilingual services. These form the basis for an expanded care network throughout RHA Central’s region through which bilingual care and resources can be coordinated. It is the dynamic system of relationships between these people and resources which forms the very structure of the Équipe de santé bilingue. Additionally, the RHA Central FLS Unit works in concert with the Équipe de santé bilingue to promote and support the delivery of French language services in Central Region. This model allows the RHA Central to extend the resources of its health care facilities to a broader geographic area and help ensure that people in and around those communities served by the teams have regular access to primary care.
Partnerships
The RHA Central is also establishing partnerships with bilingual facilities, service providers and heath professionals outside of its region. These partnerships make it easier for French speaking residents to access bilingual services in other RHAs and other places in the province and reasonably ensure that they always have access to the full spectrum of care provided by Manitoba’s health system.
The RHA Central works collaboratively with the francophone community in Central Region. As the official regional representative of this community, the Table de concertation régionale du Centre is a key partner.
Distance technologies
RHA Central also employs new technologies such as video conferencing to allow French speaking clients to access bilingual health specialists and professionals remotely. Called Telehealth, the program provides access terminals located at key health sites in the region. Through these terminals, clients can then conveniently see and talk to their health professionals without the difficulty or expense of traveling great distances to see them in person.
