Preserving direct services for First Nation, Métis and Inuit community based health and social services programs

PRESS RELEASE                                                                                                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 8, 2013

EXPRESSING STRENGTH THROUGH NUMBERS

Preserving direct services for First Nation, Métis and Inuit community based health and social services programs

First Nation communities deliver a suite of culturally appropriate, community based health promotion, disease prevention and social programs designed to improve the health and wellness outcomes of First Nations individuals, families and communities. Efficient and effective performance, as well as sound fiscal management is an expectation by health service providers, community members and funders.   

“During a time of deficit reduction, Health Canada has maintained funding for front-line health care services in First Nation communities.”  Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health,  2012-136,  September 6 2012.

In this time of funding cutbacks, many First Nations are experiencing heightened awareness about the possibility of managing programs with less resources and desire better documentation to strengthen their reporting of impacts. Those involved in First Nation and Inuit health program delivery face unique challenges with respect to data collection, multiple funding jurisdictions and diverse reporting requirements that impact their ability to capture meaningful information for health planning and quality management purposes.  These impediments require immediate attention to sustain momentum in innovation and program delivery. PathDMS is a means by which we can strengthen our record keeping, reporting, health planning and quality management.

Path Data Management System (PathDMS) was developed by a First Nation company (Williams Consulting) upon the request of numerous First Nations while undertaking their community health plan evaluations. Front-line First Nation Health Managers expressed concerns that they need to more readily and consistently capture the progress they are making toward achieving workplan objectives, indicators, outcomes and performance measures.  The need to more effectively capture this information is a priority shared by many Aboriginal front-line service providers in urban and rural centres. The data solution is designed to be intuitive and address multiple needs including health planning and management, promptly identifying emerging issues, accountability to community members, leadership and funders. 

Kienan Williams noted, “Upon reflection of the changing landscape faced by those working in the First Nation health and wellness field, we decided to make it accessible to all First Nation communities and organizations by building an application available at an affordable price.  Our goal is to keep it cost-effective, easy to use and be able to document the program-based meaningful work First Nation front line workers undertake.”  He further advised that purchasing this software is an eligible expenditure under most contribution agreements.

PathDMS improves availability and access to quality data collection and analysis to better inform decision-making and priorities.  It is the first application designed specifically for First Nations to address their unique data collection and reporting needs.

The Path Data Management System is based on cloud technology, which enables front-line workers to efficiently and effectively capture all program related activities such as workshops, presentations, circles, and events.  A centralized calendar ensures that workers do not book competing activities on the same day or time.  Users can document all meetings they attend and identify next steps or actions required.  A new form will be available to document time spent on Critical Incident Stress Management such as responding to crisis or coordinating bereavement activities.

From a health management perspective, it assists the worker in tying their activities to their workplan objectives.  While reporting on the outcome of the activity, the worker not only identifies numbers of participants, age range and gender, but reflects on the impacts of the activity as well as lessons learned and participant feedback.  Activity reports are immediately sent from the PathDMS to their supervisor for feedback.

The reporting function of PathDMS is a key feature designed to reduce administration time and allow for more time spent on direct program delivery.  With a push of a button, users and managers can see their outputs (monthly, quarterly, and annual report) including a detailed list of activities led, activities assisted with, and summary of the number and type of participants by program, funding line or workplan objective.  Managers can run reports by funding line or program to check progress made towards achieving workplan objectives in cases where more than one staff member works on a specific program. A unique feature for First Nation communities is that PathDMS automatically populates up to 16 questions on the CBRT.

Activity reporting templates are already predesigned for:

• Early Childhood Development (including CPNP, AHSOR, AHSUNC, MCH, AHBHC) with templates available to customize for local or unique ECD programs.
• Diabetes (Physical Activity, Nutrition, Screening, Education & Awareness) with templates available to customize for local or unique diabetes programming
• Wellness (Mental Wellness Promotion and Support, Substance Abuse, Suicide Prevention, Youth Sports/Recreation, Coping Skills) with templates available to customize for local or unique mental wellness programming
• Building Healthy Communities (general community wellness programs such as building healthy relationships or customize programs such as the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Program)
• Cultural Programs
• Afterschool Programs

The PathDMS is designed to be very user-friendly taking in account the varied capacity of front line community workers.  All that is required is access to the internet (minimum of DSL Internet connectivity) and this secure network can be utilized by the authorized users.  To learn more about PathDMS, an exciting and affordable participant-based tracking and data management solution for First Nation, Métis, Inuit or Aboriginal Health and Social Service Program Delivery please visit www.pathdms.ca

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For Further Information Contact:  Andrea J. Williams or Kienan Williams,
Phone:  705 932 5721 or toll free (855) PathDMS or (855) 728 4367 ext 700.
Email:  andrea@williamsconsulting.ca or kienan@williamsconsulting.ca