Spinal cord injury (SCI) patients in the subacute and chronic stages face significant challenges in accessing specialized care and health resources in communities across British Columbia. Health-care providers, particularly hospitalists and primary care physicians, are often tasked with managing these patients’ complex needs without adequate specialist support. This lack of resources results in increased clinical burden, delayed care, preventable complications, and higher health-care costs.

That inspired physiatrist Dr. Viet Vu to apply for VPSA’s Small Steps, Big Idea project funding. Her aim was to bridge the gap in specialized SCI care by enhancing access to resources, improving provider education, and developing support systems for health-care teams.

“Our goal was to improve communication and access to SCI experts to ultimately reduce complications, improve patient outcomes, and alleviate the burden on the health-care system by empowering providers to deliver more effective, timely care to SCI patients throughout BC,” said Dr. Vu.

With VPSA funding covering the team’s time for meetings, Dr. Vu and her colleagues developed an interdisciplinary team of physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, registered nurses, and social workers: the new SCINav service. People living with spinal cord injuries in BC can call or email to ask questions and get expect advice.

“The Rick Hansen Foundation has funded us $1 million for a three-year pilot. We launched the service locally in the fall 2025 and to the public in March 2026,” added Dr. Vu. “The informal network will continue to meet regularly to address gaps in care for people with spinal cord injuries in BC.”

The team also benefited tremendously by having a consultant project manager from the Rick Hansen Foundation, who was pivotal in summarizing the team’s feedback and organizing ideas.

“I attribute the success of the project to the ongoing engagement from patients, clinicians, and health administrators,” said Dr. Vu. “I think the clinicians outside of the Lower Mainland felt heard and therefore continued to attend meetings.”

As to the future, Dr. Vu would love to see an in-person meeting of all the rehab centres in BC.

“We would detail what services are available in our health authorities, at a provincial, regional or local level. This would help us to understand the tiers of services and resources that are available in each location. I hope that the informal network will eventually become a formal one.”

Dr. Vu is grateful for the funding provided by VPSA for this project.

“I had been participating in these meetings ‘off the side of my desk’ without considering funding for my time, but the SSBI grant was the first to compensate me for my time and efforts to improve this part of health care,” she said. “Thank you!”

Photo: Dr. Vu outside her clinic in the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre.