REACH is a quality improvement program that centers Indigenous knowledge, healthcare self-determination, and community priorities to support better diabetes care.

REACH creates space for innovative approaches to make changes that matter!

0+

Publications

$0M+

Funding

0+

Indigenous Community Partners

0+

Healthcare Professionals Trained

Program Snapshot



VIRTUAL QI WORKSHOPS

Three online QI Workshops delivered over 12 months. Committed time to review local priorities and develop plans for testing new ideas.This is some text inside of a div block.



ACTION PERIODS

Focused time between QI Workshops to test new ideas, make adjustments, and see what works and what does not.



LEARNING MODULES

A hub of training materials for every participant role in the program. Learn at your own pace.



QUESTIONNAIRE

A baseline snapshot of current local healthcare initiatives and systems. The results are intended for creating shared understanding and identifying local priorities.



COACHING & SUPPORT

Provision of dedicated support and coaching from our staff. We’re here to assist you every step of the way.

VIEW PROGRAM DETAILS

Proven benefits

Partnering Indigenous communities saw benefits for people with poorly-controlled type 2 diabetes:

REDUCTION in blood pressure and LDL cholesterol
REDUCTION in A1c
INCREASED measuring for A1c, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol
INCREASED screening for diabetes nephropathy
INCREASE in clients receiving Canadian guideline recommended care services

HOW WE GOT HERE

FORGE AHEAD PROGRAM

We partnered with eleven First Nations communities across six provinces to test out the QI approach. We journeyed together over five years. Community partners were involved in developing the initial program, testing the tools, and providing feedback

SOAR PROGRAM

This program leveraged the findings from the FORGE AHEAD program and four First Nations tested the adapted versions of the processes and QI tools.

VIEW PROGRAM DETAILS

what people have to say about us

"The clients really, really liked it. They were able to generate graphs from it, able to show them okay you're doing better back here than you are now. What changed, what have you been doing differently?"

"I liked them [PDSAs] because they were organized. We got to pick our battle kind of and how we were going to fix it and plans and then we could revisit what we did..."

"The impact of FORGE AHEAD. I would say that it will have a good impact because of the simple fact that it has helped us really evaluate what we're doing for our diabetic clients and then why we're doing it..."

OUR SPONSORS

Numbers
General Inquiries (519)-858-5028
Toll Free 1-(855)-858-6872
Fax (519)-858-5029
Toll Free Fax 1-(877)-809-5108

Email
reachcommunity@uwo.ca

Address
REACH Program,
Centre for Studies in Family Medicine,
Western Centre for Public Health & Family Medicine,
Western University, 1151 Richmond St., LONDON, ONTARIO N6A 3K7
‍
Business Hours
Monday — Friday 8am – 5pm EST

We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Chonnonton Nations, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. With this, we respect the longstanding relationships that Indigenous Nations have to this land, as they are the original caretakers. We acknowledge historical and ongoing injustices that Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) endure in Canada, and we accept responsibility as a public institution to contribute toward revealing and correcting miseducation as well as renewing respectful relationships with Indigenous communities through our teaching, research and community service.