The twenty-first episode of Arthritis Consumer Experts’ #ArthritisAtHome features Dr. Cheryl Barnabe, Senior Research Scientist of Arthritis Research Canada and Associate Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary. Dr. Barnabe shares her insights on healthcare delivery to Indigenous and underserved communities, many of whom are at a higher risk of COVID-19 because of underlying medical conditions. She explains the challenges of physical distancing and mental health as well as how virtual care is being used in these communities. #FactsFriday
Dr. Barnabe is a Métis rheumatologist with a graduate degree in Clinical Epidemiology. She is one of Canada’s leading researchers focused on identifying and resolving health system care gaps for Indigenous patients. She is a Vice-Chair in the Department of Medicine (Indigenous Health), Chair of the Quality Care Committee for the Canadian Rheumatology Association, and a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Indigenous Health Advisory Committee.
Visit Arthritis At Home online: https://arthritisathome.jointhealth.org
Check out these helpful resources
Government of Canada – Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Indigenous communities: https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1581964230816/1581964277298
Alberta Health Services – Indigenous Health: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page11949.aspx
University of Calgary Medicine – Dean’s Talk 2018 – Dr. Cheryl Barnabe, MD: https://youtu.be/ONSSRl-Elis
For further reading
Healthcare utilization for arthritis by Indigenous populations of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States: A systematic review: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0049017216301664
Contact information for regional medical officers:
British Columbia: First Nations Health Authority > Email: covid19needs@fnha.ca
Alberta: Dr. Wadieh Yacoub, Indigenous Services Canada > Email: wadieh.yacoub@canada.ca
Saskatchewan: Dr. Ibrahim Khan, Indigenous Services Canada > Email: ibrahim.khan@canada.ca
Northern Inter Tribal Health Authority: Dr. Nnamdi Ndubuka > Email: nndubuka@nitha.com
Manitoba: Dr. Michael Routledge, Indigenous Services Canada > Email: sac.covid-19fnihbmb.isc@canada.ca
Ontario: Dr. Maurica Maher, Indigenous Services Canada > Email: sac.covid-19fnihbontario.isc@canada.ca
Quebec: Richard Budgell, Indigenous Services Canada > Email: sac.covid-19dgspni-fnihbqc.isc@canada.ca
Atlantic: Dr. Eilish Cleary, Indigenous Services Canada > Email: sac.covid-19atlantic.isc@canada.ca
If you live in the territories, please contact your regional health authorities in the territory where you are located.