The Rural Coordination Centre was first conceived in response to the concern in rural communities that they were being overwhelmed by requests and expectations from health education programs in BC to train students in their communities. It was clear that interprofessional cooperation and collaboration would be necessary if we continue to be depended on rural physicians for their valuable educational contributions.
On November 18, 2005, a meeting involving health educators, the Ministry of Health, Health Authorities and rural community representatives was held in Vancouver to discuss these concerns. The group agreed to the principle of working together to achieve mutual rural goals of responding to rural human resource needs through educational strategies. A development committee, consisting of representatives of the UBC Medical Schools, the BC Academic Health Council, Rural Communities, the College of Health Disciplines and the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues (MOH/BCMA), was struck to look into the feasibility of establishing such an initiative.
It was decided that there was a need for an organization that would concentrate on supporting and encouraging collaboration amongst those involved in initiatives that were interested in preparing students for a career in rural health care professions, those that encouraged rural based health education, and those involved in recruiting and retaining health professions to rural settings and retaining them in rural communities.
The RCCbc has six areas of interest:
- Improving models of rural service health delivery by facilitating research and discussion;
- Identifying the needs of specific populations;
- Enhancing communications through collaboration and the sharing of technology;
- Aiding in the recruitment and retention of health professionals in rural BC;
- Facilitating rural research by assisting with a research exchange network;
- Enhancing health care provision and education by promoting interprofessional training for rural practitioners.
