When Peninsula Medical opened its doors a year ago, the clinic on Bevan Avenue in Sidney was inundated with patients desperate for a doctor B次元官网网址� 1,200 of them, to be exact.
This time around, the community health network is taking a different approach and accepting new patients through smaller, scheduled intakes. Since opening last July, 1,700 new patients who did not previously have a doctor have been accepted. The goal by the end of 2017 is to add around 3,000 more patients and the clinic is already halfway there, said Shawna Walker, executive director of Saanich Peninsula Primary Health Care Society, the charitable organization that owns and operates Peninsula Medical.
B次元官网网址淲hen we first opened we saw the whole gamut B次元官网网址� healthy people who we told come back when you need to, people floating around without doctors, some of them were on deathB次元官网网址檚 door,B次元官网网址� said Andrew Kwasnica, one of the six family physicians at Peninsula Medical. B次元官网网址淪ome patients hadnB次元官网网址檛 seen a doctor in so long we diagnosed them with five or six things, it was a big shock to them.B次元官网网址�
When the PNR visited Peninsula Medical last week, a familiar face was waiting to have a meet and greet with his new doctor.
B次元官网网址淚 guess I was one of the fortunate ones, right?B次元官网网址� said Ted Daly, a former local mayor and councillor.
Daly, 65, said his family doctor retired about a year ago, giving him no prior notice. According to Daly, he found out from a friend on social media and after he confirmed the news with the clinic, it suggested he use walk-in clinics because he was now without a doctor until a new one could be recruited.
Daly said heB次元官网网址檚 been asthmatic his whole life and heB次元官网网址檚 on medication for that, but otherwise heB次元官网网址檚 in good health.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really happy that IB次元官网网址檝e got a doctor whoB次元官网网址檚 probably going to be around for the next 20 years, itB次元官网网址檚 really comforting,B次元官网网址� Daly said, while also citing the benefits of the in-clinic pharmacist.
Fiona Coleman, a family physician at Peninsula Medical, said studies show people attached B次元官网网址� persons with a family doctor B次元官网网址� are actually healthier than those unattached.
, which is why Peninsula Medical is taking measures to attract new physicians.
B次元官网网址淲e have an edge for attracting new doctors, itB次元官网网址檚 about a work-life balance B次元官网网址� it gives them time to breathe,B次元官网网址� Walker said.
The community health network features an agreeable breakroom for physicians, a collaborative room for doctors to discuss challenging medical issues and two interview rooms for patient counselling services. In recent months a full-time pharmacist has joined the medical team to provide medication reviews and consultations with family physicians for patients on five or more medications. The addition of the pharmacist not only gives patients a deeper understanding of how their drugs work, but saves time for physicians who might otherwise have to explain this.
Currently Peninsula Medical is working to integrate a registered nurse and later a nurse practitioner to work closely with the doctors in patient care.
B次元官网网址淓veryone needs a doctor. ItB次元官网网址檚 not just about health concerns, itB次元官网网址檚 about prevention, too,B次元官网网址� Kwasnica said.
At the moment, Peninsula Medical is actively recruiting a seventh doctor to join its team, prompting another patient intake in the future.
Peninsula Medical has established criteria a person must meet to be considered for a physician: new patients must live on the Saanich Peninsula, be unattached and based on a triage system, the ones with the most complex medical needs are seen first.
Walker said people seeking a family doctor should check to find out its next patient intake.
