Building a Foundation for Better Health in the Future

 

BRIC NS is a Nova Scotia-based research network aiming to improve health and quality of life for Nova Scotians and the primary care providers who care for them. People with health care needs face many challenges.  Some of their needs can be met within the health care system, but they may also need support from outside the system, in such areas as education and social services.

BRIC NS and its partner networks across Canada are working together to find better ways of delivering primary care services and integrating research findings into practice more seamlessly–with each other and with services and resources beyond the healthcare system.

Improving accessibility and integration of services will ensure that people with chronic illnesses receive better, more timely and more comprehensive care.  This, in turn, can slow the progression of disease, prevent complications, and keep symptoms under better control, reducing the need for hospitalizations, invasive procedures and expensive drugs. By finding strategic ways to address determinants of health at the community level, BRIC NS researchers and their collaborators also hope to prevent the development of serious illness, especially for people at high risk.

Currently, the top five percent of Nova Scotia patients—those considered ‘high‑needs’—use as much as 65 percent of total hospital and physician resources. Because this group is relatively small, providing more proactive, preventive, and streamlined comprehensive care is entirely feasible and would lead to significant long‑term savings – not only in health‑care spending, but also in improved length and quality of people’s lives. 
 

“BRIC NS is building capacity and momentum to address such vital questions as, how we keep people healthy, how do we identify and mitigate risk, how can we help them manage their condition at home, and how can we provide seamless transitions between levels of care?”

–Dr. Sara Kirk, Professor of Health Promotion, Dalhousie University

BRIC NS’ Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

BRIC NS is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment where all members, award nominees, students, patient partners, and members of the public feel respected and valued. We embrace and support individuals of all genders, ages, races, ethnicities, national origins, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities, education levels, and other characteristics that contribute to the richness of our community.

We are dedicated to maintaining a non‑discriminatory organization and ensuring equitable access to opportunities for growth and participation across all areas of our work. We strive to reflect the diversity of our communities through our outreach and engagement activities, which play a vital role in our strategic planning, knowledge dissemination, and operational decisions.

We value the diverse lived experiences and perspectives that our members bring to the network. We listen, learn, and continuously work to ensure that all voices are heard and respected. BRIC NS is committed to modelling equity, diversity, and inclusion and upholding fair, respectful, and equitable treatment for all.