When Tracy Lawrence was last looking for a family doctor 14 years ago, she put an ad in the paper B次元官网网址� and it worked. Now, that doctor is retiring, so sheB次元官网网址檚 hoping an ad will work again.
Lawrence, a North Saanich resident, said she first sought a family doctor when she had her son, in order to establish a family history with one doctor.
B次元官网网址淚 couldnB次元官网网址檛 find one at the time, and this was 14 years ago,B次元官网网址� said Lawrence. B次元官网网址淪o I took an ad out, just like I did this time.B次元官网网址�
While a doctor did not contact her, someone she knew recommended their own doctor who was taking new patients, and it worked out. Now, 14 years later, she said sheB次元官网网址檚 trying the same strategy to see what comes of it.
Before placing the ad, Lawrence said she tried looking online for a family doctor, but to no avail. The Victoria Medical Society of doctors taking new patients, but that list is bare. She tried calling some other offices anyway, including her husbandB次元官网网址檚 doctor, but none of them were taking new patients. Her husbandB次元官网网址檚 doctor placed her on a five-year wait list.
B次元官网网址淭hat was my first realization that this might be a problem.B次元官网网址�
Lawrence likes the consistency of a family doctor over a walk-in clinic, since they accept appointments and are more familiar with a personB次元官网网址檚 medical history.
B次元官网网址淭he most important thing is seeing the same doctor for every issue so they can track your health and if something goes awry, it might be more obvious if thereB次元官网网址檚 that history,B次元官网网址� said Lawrence.
To combat the shortage of primary health care providers, the province announced Wednesday it is creating 200 new nurse practitioner (NP) positions in a shift towards team-based primary health care. NPs can prescribe medication, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, and perform some medical procedures.
In a statement, Minister of Health Adrian Dix acknowledged there are B次元官网网址渟ignificant numbersB次元官网网址� of British Columbians with inadequate access to a primary health care provider, and that B次元官网网址渃ompared to other jurisdictions, B.C. has not made the best use of NPs.B次元官网网址� By creating 200 new NP positions and adding 30 nurse practitioner education seats in B.C. universities, B次元官网网址渢his is about to change.B次元官网网址� There are currently 426 NPs in B.C.
Until that change can take effect, Lawrence hopes the ad will kick start her search.
B次元官网网址淚 thought putting a want ad might spark some people to have a conversation with their doctor and say, B次元官网网址極h, I hear someoneB次元官网网址檚 looking.B次元官网网址� Spread the word faster.B次元官网网址�
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com
