Process and findings informing the development of a provincial emergency medicine network

Abstract

We describe the process undertaken to inform the development of the recently launched British Columbia (BC) Emergency Medicine Network (EM Network). Five methods were undertaken: (1) a scoping literature review, (2) a survey of BC emergency practitioners and EM residents, (3) key informant interviews, (4) focus groups in sites across BC, and (5) establishment of a brand identity. There were 208 survey respondents: 84% reported consulting Internet resources once or more per emergency department shift; however, 26% reported feeling neutral, somewhat unsatisfied, or very unsatisfied with searching for information on the Internet to support their practice. Enthusiasm was expressed for envisioned EM Network resources, and the key informant interviews and focus group results helped identify and refine key desired components of the EM Network. In describing this, we provide guidance and lessons learned for health leaders and others who aspire to establish similar clinical networks, whether in EM or other medical disciplines.

A Global Survey of Emergency Care Clinical Networks: Discussion and Implications for Canadian Learning Health Systems

“…This is of increasing relevance as the Institute of Health Services and Policy Research at the Canadian Institutes for Health Research has identified the need to establish and accelerate the LHS as a strategic priority ( CIHR 2021 ). At the time of the survey, there were two emergency care clinical networks (ECCNs) in Canada – the BC Emergency Medicine Network (BC EMN) and the Emergency Strategic Clinical Network in Alberta – that conducted similar activities ( Manns and Wasylak 2019 ; McLane et al 2019 ) and sought to function as LHSs ( Abu-Laban et al 2018 , 2019 ; Christenson 2014 ; Drebit et al 2020 ; Ho et al 2021 ).…”