Island Health reaffirmed its commitment to minimize future closures at the Urgent Care Centre in Chemainus.
The centre was shut down nine days in September, with another 13 in October due to limited physician availability, prompting patients requiring care to go to Ladysmith or Cowichan District Hospital during those times.
Just exactly when Island Health can assure further day closures will cease still isnB次元官网网址檛 clear.
B次元官网网址淲e recognize it is really difficult for a community to not be able to access the Urgent Care Centre,B次元官网网址� said Dr. Maki Ikemura, medical director for the Cowichan Valley.
B次元官网网址淓verybodyB次元官网网址檚 doing their best to keep the disruptions as short as possible. WeB次元官网网址檙e doing our best to recruit additional physicians.B次元官网网址�
Ikemura was responding to a question posed by Chemainus Health Care Foundation president Paul Edwards during an Island Health public forum at the Chemainus TheatreB次元官网网址檚 Playbill Dining Room Thursday afternoon.
Edwards was particularly interested in the response, as were residents, with the hours of service being reduced again in October.
Ikemura said it is a complex situation and the answer may involve getting nurse practitioners to join family practice and the ability for physicians to move between sites.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e doing our best to cover these shifts so these closures donB次元官网网址檛 have to happen.B次元官网网址�
The forum was hosted by Island Health board chair Leah Hollins and chief executive officer Kathy MacNeil, with all but one member of the entire board of directors in attendance. Among the others making a presentation was Dr. Shannon Waters, medical health officer for the Cowichan Valley.
The session was also live-streamed for those unable to be in attendance during the afternoon hours.
The forum provided an overview of Island HealthB次元官网网址檚 work and mandates and what improvements are taking place for health care delivery in the Chemainus and Ladysmith regions.
An update was also provided by Wesley Davidson, Island HealthB次元官网网址檚 chief project officer, about the status of the new Cowichan District Hospital, the facility frequented by Chemainus residents beyond the capabilities of the Urgent Care Centre.
Some work is already being done on the site in preparation for construction, he said.
B次元官网网址淲e are working diligently to continue on that design phase,B次元官网网址� Davidson added.
Shovels are expected to go in the ground in January of 2023, with completion of the hospital replacement targeted for late 2026.
In moving forward from the pandemic, Island Health will be launching a survey in the spring of 2023 to compile data on the health and well-being of residents.
B次元官网网址淲e are the first region that will be implementing this survey,B次元官网网址� said Waters.
In response to another question from the floor for people who donB次元官网网址檛 currently have a family doctor due to retirments or other factors, MacNeil advised the best course of action is to first register on the HealthConnect data base.
B次元官网网址淭he Ministry of Health is working on some primary care initiatives,B次元官网网址� she added.
Those include the ability of pharmacists to renew existing prescriptions without having to make an appointment with a physician.
Presentations at the beginning of the forum by Hollins and MacNeil highlighted the commitment of Island Health to deliver the best possible care for patients of all needs during trying times.
B次元官网网址淥ne thing that has always been central to my work is the patient,B次元官网网址� said Hollins. B次元官网网址淐aring for the patient is why I started working in health care.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e face the dual challenge of meeting todayB次元官网网址檚 needs and trying to plan for the future,B次元官网网址� said MacNeil. B次元官网网址淲e are mindful of the current challenges we have today in delivering health care services.
B次元官网网址淭hrough the pandemic we learned new ways of working together. Here in the Cowichan Valley, we work closely with all our community partners. Coming out of the pandemic, we are facing significant challenges. Front and centre for all of us is the sustainability of our work force.B次元官网网址�
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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