Cree Health Board Innovates Care Model During Leadership Change

The Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay (CBHSSJB) is embarking on a transformative journey as Christina Biron steps in as interim executive director, succeeding Daniel St-Amour, who is retiring after 16 years of dedicated service. Biron, who previously served as the assistant executive director of Miyupimaatisiiun, has been integral to the board’s operations since starting as a summer student at the age of 15. Her longstanding experience makes her well-positioned to navigate this leadership transition and ensure continuity aligned with the organization’s strategic regional plan.

Biron expressed her readiness to lead, stating, “It’s easier for me to slip in because of my longstanding involvement and working with the directors.” Under her direction, the board is currently conducting an internal analysis with the executive team and the newly elected chairperson, Jeannie Pelletier. Elected in November, Pelletier emphasizes a commitment to culturally grounded local services, reflecting the community’s needs.

Innovative Healthcare Initiatives

A key aspect of the CBHSSJB’s new direction includes expanding partnerships, particularly with the Cree School Board. Pelletier highlighted potential plans to hire a Cree director who will focus on communicating the board’s strategic vision and ensuring community members can see themselves reflected in it. “We want people to understand this will be the pathway to our health, incorporating our Eeyou ways of knowing,” she stated. This new role is expected to foster innovative approaches to health care delivery.

Pelletier has been a strong advocate for accessible, family-centered primary care, a model first implemented at the Community Miyupimaatisiiun Centre (CMC) in Chisasibi and now being introduced in Waskaganish. Preparations are underway across all CMCs to enhance this approach. “People were tired of repeating their story,” Pelletier noted. She emphasized that having a dedicated team for families reduces reliance on emergency services, facilitating early intervention and developing trust between patients and providers.

The board’s strategy includes assigning social workers to patients, eliminating the need for lengthy waiting times. This model aims to enhance the client experience and ensure continuity of care, especially for those with chronic conditions. “A walk-in clinic is often more transactional. We’re fostering a more holistic and interdisciplinary approach to care delivery,” affirmed Biron.

As part of these initiatives, the new CMC in Waskaganish is expected to start operations by the end of October. Additionally, the community will welcome its first chiskutimwaakin, Edith Bobbish, who will provide midwifery services at a new birthing home. A new Elders home is also set to open in Chisasibi by late winter.

Future Plans and Community Impact

While the construction of Chisasibi’s new $300 million regional hospital remains at least five years away, ongoing renovations at the current facility aim to ensure compliance with health standards. In March, the community acquired a dedicated medevac plane equipped to stabilize patients during transport to southern hospitals. Dr. Darlene Kitty emphasized the pressing need for expanded services, stating, “We are missing a lot of things,” such as an operating room and advanced imaging technologies.

The new hospital is projected to significantly reduce the number of patients referred south for care by offering expanded hemodialysis, medical imaging, chemotherapy treatments, obstetrical beds, and palliative care. Currently, over 200 long-term patients are residing at Montreal’s Espresso Hotel, highlighting the urgent need for improved local healthcare facilities.

Recognizing the need for a robust workforce, the board is investing in workforce development through partnerships with the Cree School Board, McGill University, and John Abbott College. This initiative aims to enhance training programs, with growing enrollment in nursing and social work courses. Plans also include establishing a healing center in Chisasibi to support the CHB’s new addictions department and traditional medicine initiatives.

A mobile health unit developed in collaboration with the Canadian Red Cross is set to enhance emergency care delivery directly to Cree communities. St-Amour, before his departure, stated, “The goal is to be autonomous in our response or at least provide a faster response to an emergency.”

In addition to these advancements, the CBHSSJB recently introduced a group conferencing service called Peyakuutenuu Niishtam. This service aims to assist families engaged with Youth Protection by creating inclusive environments where family members can discuss challenges collectively. Pelletier explained, “When the youth is not doing well, it impacts the whole family, so it only makes sense to offer services that are more inclusive.”

As Biron transitions into her new role, her focus will be on fostering strategic partnerships to tackle the social determinants of health. “We know healthcare only accounts for 20% of overall health outcomes,” she commented, emphasizing the importance of community collaboration in fostering healthier environments.

The CBHSSJB’s commitment to improving health services and enhancing community engagement marks a significant step forward in delivering culturally appropriate and effective healthcare solutions to the Cree population.