Brittany Coyle

Background

About Brittany Coyle

I spent most of my life in the community of Campbell River. I later moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria School of Nursing. In 2009 I began my career with Island Health as an employed student nurse, and following graduation in 2011 as a registered nurse. I have a diverse background working in acute and community settings. With a globally aging population, it is essential to promote healthy aging and create inclusive and accessible communities where older adults can continue to make valuable contributions to society. Facilitating improvements in care delivery to older adults through educational leadership initiatives has driven me to pursue a master's degree. I aim to work collaboratively with stakeholders to align clinical practice and policy to meet the complex needs of an aging population that promotes living well with chronic disease. Currently, I am a clinician in an innovative community virtual care program that offers virtual and telephone support to clients to help manage various chronic and acute health conditions, including palliative care. Community virtual care is a collaborative, culturally safe program that aims to improve health literacy for clients through educational learning activities, one-on-one coaching, and symptom management, to enhance their quality of life and decrease unnecessary hospitalization regardless of their geographic location. Communication through electronic health records facilitates collaboration with an interdisciplinary team in the community and acute care settings to ensure continuity of care. Previously I worked in an interim leadership role as a Community Service Coordinator with Access and Transitions with Island Health, partnering with local and regional stakeholders to ensure equitable and timely access to community health services for clients. Additionally, I was a long-term care access case manager responsible for client flow in long-term care and assisted living facilities on Vancouver Island. I worked closely with case managers and operators, supporting complex decision-making. I was also on a panel that reviewed client applications for subsidized care to determine their eligibility per the Ministry of Health's policy. I have also had the opportunity to participate in community-based projects during the pandemic that facilitated flow in long-term care sites. Additionally, maintaining a work-life balance is essential and provides necessary grounding and reflection. I am active in the arts community, art is the creative outlet that allows me to balance the demands of my career.