MISSION

Louise Kangok and patient

OHSNI’s focus is to provide specialized medical services for people in Nunavut. These include:

• Communication between all medical personnel, and families, in the north and in Ottawa
• Administrative support for appointments
• Nursing case management
• Inuktitut interpretation services

In addition, OHSNI is involved in a number of programs designed to increase access to health care for the citizens of the Baffin Region, including:

• Specialty clinics at the Qikqitani General Hospital
• Joint Family Medicine training program
• Pediatric Residency program
• Facilitation of Tele-health care between Nunavut and Ottawa
• A Smoking-cessation Research initiative.

Above all, OHSNI is dedicated to providing prompt and appropriate health services for the individuals under our care, paying special attention to our patients’ wishes and beliefs.

VISION

Community Health rep/ Pond Inlet

The Inuit are in a period of transition, from a nomadic way of life and reliance on country food, to a life of living in settled communities. Increased reliance on processed foods is of great concern. From a medical perspective, this transition has put Inuit at risk for chronic diseases not previously known to them.

The Inuit have recently focused on these health issues, including diabetes, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Fetal Alcohol Effects, home care, nutrition, and non-insured health benefits. OHSNI’s intent is to share information about Inuit health care needs and priorities while working with our clients to develop policies and programs that enable Inuit to more easily access health care services.

By 2011, we will expand to thirteen staff members and we will continue to serve the citizens of Nunavut by sending medical specialists to Qiqiqtani, co-coordinating health care, nursing case management and medical interpretation.  Most importantly, OHSNI will continue to build productive relationships between the health providers in Ottawa and Nunavut.

OHSNI will work diligently to make sure the right people get the right treatment by improving communication and linkages between partners, by promoting northern employment opportunities to qualified staff in Ottawa, by increasing the clinical use of tele-health, by providing additional treatment such as chemotherapy in Iqaluit, and by constantly improving OHSNI’s data collection to continue to identify opportunities. 

The past decade has taught us a lot. We have worked hard to listen, to respond, to design services that make sense, and to remain true to the culture and the values of the people of the North. More than anything else, it is our privilege and honour to work among and on behalf of the Inuit of Qiqiqtani.

VALUES

The Baffin / Ottawa Program will provide a safe and culturally sensitive environment for patients and their escorts, from the Baffin region, while they are in Ottawa.  The program will facilitate prompt and appropriate health care for the individuals under our mandate, respecting the patient’s wishes and beliefs.