People who are pregnant will have increased access to prenatal and postpartum care services in Kamloops, thanks to joint funding being provided to the First Steps Early Pregnancy Triage Clinic from the Ministry of Health and Interior Health.
“The expansion of the innovative and team-based services provided by First Steps Early Pregnancy Triage Clinic are needed to meet the needs of expectant families in Kamloops and surrounding communities,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “The enhanced funding demonstrates our continuing commitment to bolster maternal and newborn health by expanding access to vital prenatal and postpartum care services.”
Working in partnership, the Ministry of Health, Thompson Region Division of Family Practice, local maternity care providers, and Interior Health have addressed potential service gaps to help First Steps continue to provide essential maternity care for patients in Kamloops and the Thompson Cariboo region.
The vision for this service is to deliver team-based care, including midwives, physicians and nurse practitioners, who work together to support families through early pregnancy. Interior Health will employ a registered nurse, nurse practitioner and medical office assistant at First Steps which will now allow the clinic to follow maternity patients up to 30 weeks of their pregnancy. This is an extension from the previous service, which was up to 20 weeks. First Steps services will also expand to include postpartum care up to six weeks after birth.
“Stabilizing high-quality, team-based care for pregnant and postpartum patients is the goal of all partners engaged in the First Steps Early Pregnancy Triage Clinic,” said Susan Brown, Interior Health president and CEO. “Through collaborative efforts, we are committed to providing expectant individuals and new parents with the necessary care and support during such a significant time in their lives.”
Opened in September 2023, the First Steps Early Pregnancy Triage Clinic provides prenatal care for unattached and some attached patients in their early pregnancy. People who are newly pregnant without a care provider can call or text the First Steps Early Pregnancy Triage Clinic at 250-318-3821 to access care. The clinic has seen 395 maternity patients in five months of service and is estimated to serve approximately 800 patients per year.
“We want to be here for people at such an important and vulnerable time,” said Joanna Norman, head of the First Steps Early Pregnancy Triage Clinic. “With this funding in place we will be able to care for many more patients seeking prenatal and postpartum care in the community.”
The First Steps Early Pregnancy Triage Clinic is located in Tudor Village at 1315 Summit Drive, Kamloops. It is open Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
