Perinatal Community of Practice

Overview - Perinatal Community of Practice

Following the success of Shared Care's Maternity Spread Network in 2017, a need was identified to sustain and spread improvements, to expand efforts by including all perinatal care providers and broader system partners (at the community, regional, and provincial levels), and to engage Indigenous leaders in fostering relationships, addressing emerging priorities, and collaborating around the importance of perinatal care in our province. To address this need, the natural next step in the evolution of the work was to develop and implement a perinatal-focused community of practice bringing together health system partners to support the Maternity Services Strategy.

The Shared Care Committee agreed, and since then, have been supporting a Perinatal Community of Practice, which includes a steering committee and a working group. The Community of Practice working group includes representation from healthcare professionals, system partners and community members including an Indigenous Elder and patient partner.

Last Community of Practice Provincial Gathering Summary Report

On October 20, 2022,the Perinatal Community of Practice (CoP) Steering Committee hosted a province-wide virtual engagement event. Roughly 126 participants gathered from all health regions, including representatives from Divisions of Family Practice, health authorities, the Ministry of Health, patient partners, and community partners. The event was a great success and included impactful presentation and opportunities for rich discussions among the attendees.

Check out the summary report for further insight into this event.

Additionally, the Perinatal CoP Inaugural Engagement event took place on November 29, 2021. Read the event report.

Strategic Plan

Read the 2022/2023 Perinatal Community of Practice strategic plan.

Perinatal Community of Practice Working Group Focusing on Priority Areas

Improving access to a primary care provider/PMH for unattached perinatal patients and their families, including access to a family physician or nurse practitioner for all mother-baby dyads.
Bringing care and supports to communities (closer to home, including rural and Indigenous communities).
Facilitating the development of a care path for newborns in each PCN.
Facilitating the transition to ongoing postpartum care and supports.
Supporting seamless transitions in care between providers, communities, and acute/community across the care continuum.
Facilitating sharing of best practices and learnings at the PMH-clinical provider level.
Supporting education, knowledge translation, and training at the PMH-clinical provider level.