Indigenous patients at Bluewater Health can now voluntarily self-identify when registering.
The self-identification will be saved in the patient’s record, allowing the hospital to provide extra support through the Indigenous Patient Navigator.
Everyone registering for patient care at hospital will be asked if they would like to self-identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit.
The “yes” or “no” responses will be saved and the patient won’t be asked when registering in the future, the hospital said. Proof of status is not required.
Patients that don’t respond will be asked again on the next visit.
“The information collected will be used for the sole purpose of providing the best possible care to patients,” said Indigenous patient navigator Nikki George.