Joint Collaborative Committees

Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues Meeting Summaries

May 2025

  • The JSC met on May 12, 2025:
    • Feedback was provided to support the update and review of policies for the JSC Rural Programs administered by the Ministry of Health (MOH). 
    • Approval was granted to fund the assessment phase of Rural Business Processes Modernization, which aims to enhance and streamline administration of the JSC’s Rural Programs and Incentives at the MOH.  
    • Discussions were held about the supporting structure, challenges, and opportunities to better support the JSC-funded Rural Programs Liaison (RPL) and Rural Continuing Medical Education (RCME) liaison position in each health authority.  
  • JSC Milestones for May:
    • The Indigenous Medical Education Gathering (IMEG) Community is Medicine brought together Indigenous health professionals, students, and allies to reflect, share and support each other in medical education and the healthcare system in the spirit of learning, healing, and community.  
    • The Emergency Education Program (EEP) Spring 2026 Cohort is open for applications until June 15, 2025. Family physicians practicing in or wishing to serve rural communities in BC can apply for a three-month, full-time, remunerated fellowship in Emergency Medicine. ⁠EEP offers 12 weeks of structured education to boost physician expertise and confidence in emergency care.   
    • RCCbc’s Annual Report 2024-25 was released. 

April 2025

  • The JSC did not meet in April. No update will be posted to the JCC website.

March 10 & 11, 2025

  • The JSC met on March 10 and 11, 2025.
    • A gender equity gap in the Rural Retention Program (RRP) Flat Fee and Rural Continuing Medical Education (RCME) Policy has been addressed, effective April 1, 2025. Changes will allow physicians who go on parental leave before reaching the nine-month eligibility requirement to access these benefits.
    • The JSC approved an AI Scribe pilot to support rural physicians in trialling an AI Scribe tool. Feedback will be collected to assess the impact of AI scribes on reducing administrative burden.
    • The JSC approved a Rural Retrieval and Transfer Medicine Capacity Building Program proposal, which will provide bridge funding for educational and training support for rural providers who accompany patients on transport. This support is expected to reduce burnout and improve the retention of rural providers.
  • The 2023-24 annual report from the Selkirk College Rural Pre-Medicine (RPM) Program, which the JSC seed-funded, identified several success stories of its students matriculating to rural physician practice. The RPM Program is designed to prepare students for health professional programs, particularly medicine, with a focus on rural healthcare insights and rural and Indigenous Health.  
  • JSC Milestones for March: 
    • The 2023-24 annual report from the Selkirk College Rural Pre-Medicine (RPM) Program, which the JSC seed-funded, identified several success stories of its students matriculating to rural physician practice. The RPM Program is designed to prepare students for health professional programs, particularly medicine, with a focus on rural healthcare insights and rural and Indigenous Health.  

January 25, 2025

  • The JSC met on January 27 and 28, 2025. 
    • The committee approved the 2025-26 budgets for the Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc), Locums for Rural BC (LRBC), and the Practice Readiness Assessment-BC (PRA-BC).
    • The Northern and Isolation Travel Assistance Outreach Program (NITAOP) Working Group approved all applications and exceptions for 2025-26.

  • JSC Milestones for January:
    • RCCbc celebrated highlights from 2024, including:
      • Launch of the new RTVS pathway: Rural Outreach in Critical Care and Internal Medicine (ROCCi), which will provide real-time assistance to rural healthcare providers and enhance care across BC. 
      • The Indigenous Medical Education Gathering (IMEG) 2024 brought together Indigenous students, residents, physicians, Interprofessional Team Members, and non-Indigenous allies to build community and advance Indigenous health and wellness with land-based healing.