First Steps provides a vital pillar of support

Since the grand opening on September 18, the First Steps Early Pregnancy Triage Clinic has been a vital pillar of support for expectant individuals in Kamloops and the surrounding rural areas. In just over six months, the clinic has delivered care to more than 400 pregnant patients.

Conceived by Joanna Norman, the Head of Midwifery at the Royal Inland Hospital (RIH), First Steps was created to address the urgent need for a streamlined prenatal care pathway in the community. Patients at the clinic receive immediate access to early prenatal assessments, including essential lab tests, ultrasounds, genetic screenings, and expedited referrals for high-risk and specialized pregnancies.

As Canada’s healthcare system shifts towards interdisciplinary care, the clinic stands out as the first of its kind in Kamloops. Its dedicated team works collaboratively to provide care to expectant individuals. Dr. Justyne Morrow, the clinic’s family physician lead, expressed pride in the clinic’s efforts “I am very proud of the work this clinic is doing to provide team-based interdisciplinary care to these pregnant patients to help alleviate this stress and ensure good prenatal care.” To date, the clinic has engaged a team of two General Practitioners, three Nurse Practitioners, and five Registered Midwives, with ongoing recruitment efforts to further enhance its services.

The impact of the clinic extends beyond its direct services, notably relieving pressure on local urgent care systems. Prior to its establishment, pregnant individuals without primary care often sought assistance at urgent care facilities, straining resources meant for other needs. Joanna Norman noted, “Our clinic has already helped alleviate pressure on the urgent care system, freeing up crucial appointments for those with genuine needs.”

Initial clinic development was supported by a grant from the Foundation for Advancing Family Medicine, a part of the Team Primary Care initiative.  As grant funding came to an end in March, the clinic was unsure about its future, as it faced rising operational costs due to an increase in demand for services. However, the clinic has garnered significant support from key stakeholders and community leaders, including MP Caputo, MLAs Stone and Milobar, Mayor Hamer-Jackson, Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, Health Minister Dix, Perinatal Services BC, Royal Inland Hospital Foundation, Interior Health, and more. Earlier this month, First Steps announced ongoing support from Interior Health and BC’s Ministry of Health, allowing the clinic to remain operational.

This widespread support underscores the clinic’s importance and its role in improving access to quality prenatal care in the region.

For more information on the First Steps Early Pregnancy Triage Clinic visit earlypregnancy.ca