Indigenous Patient Navigators support patients, families and staff while respecting local traditions, protocols, and practices to ensure culturally safe health care services.

What to expect

Indigenous Patient Navigators provide direct patient and family support, including access to Elders, traditional ceremonies, and traditional healing practices, as well as support and education to health-care team members caring for Indigenous patients. The services provided by IPNs include:

  • consultation with health care staff on health care planning for patients;
  • resource/contact information on Indigenous-specific resources and referrals for health-care teams;
  • coaching and consultation on Indigenous patient care;
  • traditional cultural support – smudging, traditional medicines;
  • talk with patients and family on health-care needs; and
  • Indigenous Cultural Safety education.

Lower Mainland

Hours: 
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays

Urban Indigenous Patient Navigator
Phone: 1 (877) 875-1131
Email: info.indigenoushealth@vch.ca

Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital, G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre and George Pearson Centre
Phone: (604) 314-8069
Email: info.indigenoushealth@vch.ca

Lions Gate Hospital
Phone: (604) 789-7256
Email: info.indigenoushealth@vch.ca

Richmond Hospital
Phone: (236) 877-5668
Email: info.indigenoushealth@vch.ca

qathet General Hospital

Hours: 

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday

Phone: (604) 414-4128

Email: jessica.hackett@vch.ca

ƛ̓uxválásu̓ilas Heiltsuk Hospital

Hours: 
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday

Phone: (604) 786-1736
Email: cynthia.peal@vch.ca

Sechelt (shíshálh) Hospital

Hours: 
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday

Hospital referrals:
Consult 'Aboriginal/Indigenous' via Cerner

Community referrals
Contact Amanda Dixon to request support.
Phone: 604-740-7870
Email: amanda.dixon@vch.ca

Bella Coola General Hospital

Hours: 

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday

Phone: (236) 589-4717

Email: norma.mack@vch.ca

Find this service near you

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  • Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) at Vancouver General Hospital

    0.47 km
    899 West 12th AvenueVancouver
  • Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre

    1.10 km
    4255 Laurel StreetVancouver
  • Long term care homes

    Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) at Oak Care Centre

    4.31 km
    780 West 57th AvenueVancouver
  • Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) at Lions Gate Hospital

    8.19 km
    231 East 15th StreetNorth Vancouver
  • Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) at UBC Hospital

    8.88 km
    2211 Wesbrook MallVancouver
  • Indigenous Patient Navigators (IPNs) at Richmond Hospital

    10.01 km
    7000 Westminster HighwayRichmond
  • Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN) at Sechelt | shíshálh Hospital

    51.35 km
    5544 Sunshine Coast HighwaySechelt
  • Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN) at qathet General Hospital

    120.41 km
    5000 Joyce AvenuePowell River
  • Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN) at Bella Coola General Hospital

    430.40 km
    1025 Elcho StreetBella Coola
  • Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN) at ƛ̓uxválásu̓ilas Heiltsuk Hospital

    479.34 km
    88 Waglisla StreetBella Bella