How Might your Community and Primary Care Reduce the Impact of Financial Strain

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Thank you for your interest in and involvement with the RIFS project. This project was a ground-breaking collaboration between primary care, public health and communities utilizing a collaborative approach to address income as a determinant of health within the Patient’s Medical Home, Health Neighbourhood, and the community, resulting in a stronger, more integrated health ecosystem for patients. We are grateful to the many teams who made the work such a success and continue to collaborate and take action to reduce financial strain.

With the formal RIFS project now complete, focus has shifted to enabling this work to grow and evolve in other clinics and communities. Visit the Alberta Health Services – Healthier Together website to learn more and stay up to date on the initiatives that result from this project.  


This website is a place where you can share your insights, experiences, and ideas in reducing impact on financial strain in your community.

Income is one of the most important factors that influences health. Financial strain is economic pressure that can cause stress and harm health.

Digital stories are a powerful way to create a meaningful discussion and simulate thoughtful change. We invite you to share the short videos with your teams, discuss what resonates (you may wish to use the questions at the end), what changes you might want to make and engage with others already doing this work using our Map and Forum.

The ‘Reducing the Impact of Financial Strain (RIFS)’ project will strengthen connections between community members and organizations including primary care teams. The aim is to collaboratively design local solutions to support health by addressing financial concerns in a sensitive, compassionate and sustainable way. While community looks at improving supports, Primary Care teams identify and support patients with financial concerns and help them access appropriate community supports.

Check back often for more videos and participate in the forum discussion


This website is a place where you can share your insights, experiences, and ideas in reducing impact on financial strain in your community.

Income is one of the most important factors that influences health. Financial strain is economic pressure that can cause stress and harm health.

Digital stories are a powerful way to create a meaningful discussion and simulate thoughtful change. We invite you to share the short videos with your teams, discuss what resonates (you may wish to use the questions at the end), what changes you might want to make and engage with others already doing this work using our Map and Forum.

The ‘Reducing the Impact of Financial Strain (RIFS)’ project will strengthen connections between community members and organizations including primary care teams. The aim is to collaboratively design local solutions to support health by addressing financial concerns in a sensitive, compassionate and sustainable way. While community looks at improving supports, Primary Care teams identify and support patients with financial concerns and help them access appropriate community supports.

Check back often for more videos and participate in the forum discussion

Share your story

To be impactful and work from a place of empathy, we need to understand the lived experiences and strengths of our community. Financial strain can look and feel different to different people and in different communities. We need to listen to and learn from peoples experience - what has worked and what was difficult. Your journey and experiences gives insight into what is important and inspires other health and social care teams working along side communities to take action collectively. You may wish to use photos, images, video, words or written stories. 

Thank you or submitting your story.

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share Blindsided on Facebook Share Blindsided on Twitter Share Blindsided on Linkedin Email Blindsided link

    Blindsided

    about 3 years ago

    This story is about the challenges of following through on medical advice without the needed financial resources. Through Creeann’s interactions with the healthcare system, we clearly see how financial strain can limit people’s ability to purchase prescribed medications and how simply asking patients and their families about financial strain can lead to better support. What resonated with you?


  • Share Helpful Help on Facebook Share Helpful Help on Twitter Share Helpful Help on Linkedin Email Helpful Help link

    Helpful Help

    about 3 years ago

    Explores the myths and misconceptions around financial strain or poverty working in a community-based organization and the healthcare system. It explores the lessons learned from a “poverty simulation” with Primary Care Network colleagues and community partners.


  • Share The Hero Within on Facebook Share The Hero Within on Twitter Share The Hero Within on Linkedin Email The Hero Within link

    The Hero Within

    over 3 years ago

  • Share Laying the Foundation on Facebook Share Laying the Foundation on Twitter Share Laying the Foundation on Linkedin Email Laying the Foundation link

    Laying the Foundation

    by Lacey, over 3 years ago

  • Share Meeting at the Fence on Facebook Share Meeting at the Fence on Twitter Share Meeting at the Fence on Linkedin Email Meeting at the Fence link

    Meeting at the Fence

    over 3 years ago

    What stand out to you with Shelley's story?

  • Share Living with a chronic disability and financial challenges on Facebook Share Living with a chronic disability and financial challenges on Twitter Share Living with a chronic disability and financial challenges on Linkedin Email Living with a chronic disability and financial challenges link

    Living with a chronic disability and financial challenges

    by Sandra L Campbell, almost 5 years ago

    As so many know in their own lives and families, in a split second, life can change..... For me, a bad fall in August 2010 caused non stop back and leg pain and worry to find out what was wrong. Never ending paperwork and forms, specialists, imaging and long wait lists added to the frustrations. Finally a diagnosis, my lower spine was badly damaged. Then more waiting, tests, fear and uncertainty, permanent nerve damage, pain and mobility issues. How will I work, manage at home and pay bills? Fast forward to April 2014... my surgery did not go as planned... Continue reading

  • Share In the shoes of those living with financial strain on Facebook Share In the shoes of those living with financial strain on Twitter Share In the shoes of those living with financial strain on Linkedin Email In the shoes of those living with financial strain link

    In the shoes of those living with financial strain

    almost 5 years ago

    Kalyna Country PCN, AHS and the community of Vermilion brought together a large group of people who put themselves in the shoes of those living with financial strain. This graphic captures the essence of their story, how they felt and what they said. You can explore it up close here or in person around town.