DMFS

• DMFS Update
• In Focus
  • Submission Guidelines
• National Military Family Council
• Enhancement of the MFSP
  • Health Care
  • Deployment and Reunion
  • Mental Health and Social Support
  • Education
  • Child Care
  • Employment
  • Family Service Enablers
  • CF Family Covenant
  • CF Family Services Summit II
• Pilot Projects
  • Child Care
  • Deployment and Reunion
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Mental Health and Social Support
• MFSP Participant Survey
• MFRC Board Orientation and Training Kit
• Resources for C/MFRCs
  • Logos
  • Second Language Training Resources
  • Videos
  • Deployment Support Database
  • Family Violence Prevention Resource Database
  • Family Violence Prevention and Awareness Campaign
  • Policies and Standards
  • Research
  • Publications
  • Forms
• MFSP eBusiness Centre
• C/MFRC Contact List
• About Us
• Contact Us
• Links

Update on the Enhancement of the MFSP: Health Care

Throughout 2009, Director Military Family Services (DMFS) engaged in a comprehensive review to determine what non-emergency health care services are available for Canadian Forces (CF) families.

The review provided a revealing picture of the diverse health care options available to CF families across the country. DMFS also identified major deficiencies in available health care, including insufficient medical professionals to serve CF families; absence of local policies or initiatives by Commanding Officers which can facilitate CF families’ access to community-based health care; and incongruent access to health care when comparing CF personnel with their family members. 

To address these deficiencies, DMFS has focused its efforts on several main projects and partnerships. To help ease the health care transitions of families during new postings, DMFS has begun collaborating with medical organizations to expand access to information on local health care practitioners accepting new patients. DMFS has also begun developing an awareness campaign to encourage civilian medical practitioners to serve CF families. To this end, in October 2009 DMFS attended the Family Medicine Forum to meet with physicians from across Canada and discuss ideas on how to improve CF families’ access to health care.

In addition to these civilian partnership initiatives, DMFS has also begun preparing policy and guidance documents for Commanding Officers to support their efforts to enhance health care services in their communities. These documents will support Commanding Officers who seek to establish family medical clinics.
 
DMFS is pleased with the direction these projects have taken thus far, and anticipates that the project results will be analyzed as part of the entire suite of enhancements being proposed for endorsement by Chief Military Personnel.

Dynamic First Meeting on Canadian Forces Family Health Care

Humming with energy and filled with passionate people, the first meeting of the Canadian Forces (CF) Family Health Care Advisory Committee and Working Group generated a remarkable number of ideas and proposals. Click here for more.

Click here to view the Health Care Advisory Committee and Working Group's Presentation Notes and Slides.