New Aakuluk Clinic optimizes medical care for Inuit families at CHEO

OTTAWA — CHEO’s Aakuluk Clinic, launched today, will serve as a hub that organizes health care for children and youth from Nunavut with complex medical needs. The word aakuluk is an Inuktitut term expressing warmth, love and affection — how CHEO hopes Inuit families feel while accessing care.

“Inuit families are far from their homes, communities and culture, while trying to navigate some fairly complex health-care needs,” said Dr. Radha Jetty, CHEO pediatrician and medical lead for the new clinic. “Following the wisdom and guidance of Inuit community partners, we have re-organized our resources and strengthened partnerships to streamline care for Inuit children and youth, so it is culturally safe, simpler to access and timely.”

Families coming to the weekly clinic will:

• be greeted by Inuit patient navigators from Inuuqatigiit Centre for Inuit Children, Youth and Families and Tungasuvvingat Inuit,
• have tests and appointments with multiple specialists coordinated by the team to happen in fewest possible visits to CHEO,
• have access to translation services, and
• be welcomed by Inuit art and images from the North.

CHEO has eight pediatricians with expertise in northern health, with many years of on-the-ground experience in Nunavut. The clinic brings them together with CHEO nurses and social workers, nurse case managers from Ottawa Health Services Network Inc. (OHSNI) and the Inuit patient navigators (mentioned above). Consolidating resources in this way also improves communication and collaboration between the specialist pediatricians at CHEO and physicians in Nunavut.

“The Aakuluk Clinic team includes local Inuit community partners and Inuit families,” added Dr. Jetty. “We are honoured by the partnerships forged to deliver better care and simplify lives when someone is sick and away from home.”

In addition to meeting the pressing health-care needs of children and youth with medical complexity, the clinic serves Inuit families with medically fragile children who must stay in Ottawa for long periods to receive specialized care at CHEO. The Aakuluk Clinic team also works with Nunavut health-care providers to enable a timely and safe return home.

The Aakuluk Clinic is in also keeping with the goals of the proposed Kids Come First Health Team, which aims to help Indigenous people as a priority population in its first year. If the health team is approved by the province, CHEO and Inuuqatigiit Centre for Inuit Children, Youth and Families are two of 61 partners who would come together to deliver integrated pediatric care for the region of Eastern Ontario.

Partner quotations

“It’s great to see that CHEO is implementing the new Aakuluk Clinic for Inuit children, youth and families who are dealing with complex medical issues. This new clinic will provide a culturally safer space for families to access the care they need for their children. Our Inuuqatigiit Social/Cultural Navigator team is happy to assist the clinic in providing social and cultural supports to these families while they are in Ottawa receiving medical care. I’m extending my best wishes and congratulations to CHEO on the launch of the Aakuluk Clinic.”
—Stephanie Mikki Adams, Executive Director, Inuuqatigiit Centre for Inuit Children, Youth and Families

“As a primary provider of Inuit-specific services to Inuit in Ottawa and across Ontario, Tungasuvvingat Inuit supports the need for all health-care providers, including CHEO, to provide comfort and quality care to Inuit children and their families from Nunavut and in the National Capital Region. The incorporation of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit societal values in health care is vitally important as part of the overall care and well-being of Inuit. Congratulations on the opening of this much needed new clinic that includes family and the community as part of the healing journey.”
—Jason LeBlanc, Executive Director, Tungasuvvingat Inuit

“OHSNI is pleased to play an integral role in the Aakuluk Clinic. This clinic will enhance the delivery of comprehensive and integrated health services for our young Nunavummiut patients and their families. As a partner, OHSNI will continue its ongoing role in ensuring these children, youth and their families are well supported and prepared for their discharge home to their communities.”
—Heather Sherrard, Board Chair, Ottawa Health Services Network Inc.

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