Hibberd & Smith: Nursing Leadership and Management in Canada,

3rd Edition

Case Studies

Chapter 4: Implementing Primary Health Care through Community Health Centres

Case Study
Members of the Valdez family, who recently immigrated to Edmonton, Alberta, from South
America, came to the Abbotsfield Outreach Clinic for primary health care services. Some of the
family’s issues were addressed in the outreach clinic, but the family was also directed to the
North East Community Health Centre (NECHC) for other services. The family was struggling
with a variety of issues, including financial, cultural, and general adjustment issues; primary
health care needs; and pediatric neurological and behavioural needs.
Once at the NECHC, the family members were referred to a variety of the centre’s care
providers. Coordination of the family’s challenges was discussed at Complex Client Rounds, a
monthly meeting of health care providers from all services (including Emergency Services) who
are involved with a given family. Multicultural health brokers worked with the family and the
NECHC to facilitate access to other community-based agencies and services.
Recently, a follow-up check provided some good news: Mr. Valdez is now employed, and
Mrs. Valdez is enrolled in an English language program. With her increasing ability to speak
English, Mrs. Valdez is communicating with other mothers in her community, thereby decreasing
her isolation. These other mothers also are sharing information on neighbourhood resources that
the Valdez family now accesses. The oldest of the Valdez children is enrolled in a Head Start
program, which provides comprehensive preschool and family support services for low-income
families five days a week. In addition to the program’s educational focus, strengthening
children’s self esteem and enhancing developmental capacities are essential goals. The younger
child, who is followed by pediatric neurologists, is mildly delayed but steadily achieving
developmental milestones.

Questions for discussion:

1. If the NECHC had not been available, where would the Valdez family have obtained the
services they needed?
2. How many different settings or locations would they have had to visit?
3. How would information have been shared among the care providers in these various settings?
4. What would have been the costs of these services if not provided in a CHC?
5. How are the CHC objectives illustrated in this case example?

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