BC Rural Health Conference

The annual British Columbia (BC) Rural Health Conference (RHC) creates an intimate learning space for new and veteran rural physicians and other allied health professionals to network, share knowledge, and update and learn new skills. Each RHC offers evidence-based, accredited, and interactive hands-on workshops and small group sessions, along with large plenaries, on numerous rural health topics. Wellness sessions and family-friendly social events are also interwoven into the event. This event is planned and executed in collaboration with University of British Columbia Continuing Professional Development and supported by the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues.

Achievements & Impact

Hosted a free three-part webinar series for rural physicians on COVID-19 “hot topics” as an alternative to the RHC 2020, which had to be cancelled due to the pandemic

Planned RHC 2021 with an interactive, engaging, and inspiring virtual program

Looking ahead

BC Rural Health Conference Overview

Regrettably, the BC RHC, which was scheduled to occur in-person in Penticton, had to be cancelled in 2020 to ensure the safety of the event’s speakers and learners and allow rural frontline healthcare providers to focus on caring for their patients, families, and rural communities during this difficult time. As an alternative to RHC 2020, and in an effort to support rural physicians and their teams during the rapidly-evolving pandemic, a three-part virtual learning webinar series on COVID-19 “hot topics” was offered in the summer. This free webinar series featured rural speakers who presented the latest rurally-relevant continuing medical education, along with pearls and tips to aid them in caring for their communities.

The three-part webinar series covered:

Acute Respiratory Distress: Approach and Management in the Suspected COVID-19 Patient
Delivering Culturally Safe Care During a Pandemic: Rural BC Success Stories
Ask Anything: Rural Emergency Topics During COVID-19

Toward the second half of the fiscal year, the RHC team began planning the 2021 event—this time, selecting a virtual format to accommodate ongoing pandemic threats and restrictions. Despite the virtual format, the team was creative and diligent in selecting an online platform to host the event, and in developing an interactive, engaging, and inspiring program of plenaries, hands-on workshops, small group sessions, and wellness and social activities. The event was extensively promoted using online channels and information dissemination to partners.

In the coming year, the BC RHC team looks forward to hosting RHC 2021 in May. Event evaluations by attendees will be analyzed to explore opportunities for improvement. The team will then proceed with planning for RHC 2022, which is tentatively scheduled as an in-person event, once again, in Penticton.

How have we shown or built resilience in BC during a challenging year?

“The BC Rural Health Conference team made the decision to cancel the 2020 event because we recognized that rural frontline healthcare providers were reluctant to leave their communities at the onset of the pandemic. We strongly supported their decision to prioritize patients, colleagues, families, and communities. The Conference has always been implemented face-to-face, but our planning committee, speakers, participants, and staff made a dramatic shift this past year in program delivery, demonstrating their remarkable capacity to recover from challenging situations.”

Dr. Brenda Huff
Medical Lead, BC Rural Health Conference, RCCbc

Team Members: Elisa Chow