Links & Resources
Physician Resources
Immunization schedules
INTAL
Island Health's Internal Medicine Advice Line for advice on patients, and what tests to order. Call 877 370-8699.
Consultderm
Consultderm is a BC-wide resource for online dermatology consultations. For those puzzling cases, simply take picture(s) of the lesions, upload it to the site, add some clinical info and send it off to one of the participating dermatologists. The dermatologists look at the online consult and return with a diagnosis and recommendations.
Refugee resources
Evidence-Based Preventive Care Checklist for New Immigrants and Refugees, Central Middle East region.
Retirement Resource
The Vancouver Division of Family Practice has developed a guide to help physicians map out their plan for retirement, and transition out of full-time practice. You can review the "How To Retire" guide here.
MOST (Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment)
Looking for the MOST form? Find it here. Log on to the Island Health website for additional MOST documents such as the Policy and FAQs.
Referral Programs
QuitNow
QuitNow is British Columbia’s tobacco and nicotine cessation program, funded by the Ministry of Health and offered free to BC residents aged 10 and up. Our evidence-based strategies and individualized program features have helped many British Columbians quit tobacco and nicotine. The QuitNow program includes web-based services and educational material, behavioural support via phone, text, and live chat, and access to a supportive community of peers.
BC Alzheimer Society First Link® Program
First Link is an early intervention service designed to connect individuals and families affected by Alzheimer's disease or another dementia with services and support as soon as possible after diagnosis.
Bounce Back
Bounce Back is a cognitive behaviorally-based, guided self-help, mood-improvement program for adults with mild to moderate depression.
Home Health Monitoring Service
Home Health Monitoring Service is an Island Health Service for patients with heart failure and COPD. You can review the service overview here.
Nanaimo Heart Function Clinic
Nanaimo Heart Function Clinic provides education, careful surveillance and intervention including self-management support and medical management for people diagnosed with Heart Failure. As of November 2016, new referrals are being accepted. Learn more about the clinic by reviewing the memorandum, referral form and statistics.
Patient Supports & Services
Health Connect Registry
Are you a resident of the Cowichan Valley and in need of a family doctor? You can now register your name on a central waitlist online by clicking here. >
Prefer to speak to someone? You can also call 8-1-1 to register.
Better at Home
Funded by the Government of BC, is a program that offers simple services such as friendly visits, yard work, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, home repair, snow removal and transportation to appointments. The services are non-medical in nature, and intended to supplement services provided by community health workers. Better at Home services will be delivered by a local social service agency and staffed by a mix of paid and volunteer workers. Find out more about Better at Home >
Genetic Counseling Service
A provincial, psychiatric genetic counseling service in British Columbia. The Vancouver-based clinic offers free genetic counseling to individuals who live with a psychiatric diagnosis and/or their family members. More information can be found in the attached flyer and referral form.
Mental Health Support Services, Residential School Survivors
For survivors, their families and anyone who has participated in the Truth & Reconciliation events. There are 4 counsellors in the Cowichan Valley who are set up to accept patients under this program. No doctor referral is required - individuals can self-refer. Click here for more information >
Run To Quit
A tobacco cessation program that pairs the quit smoking expertise of the Canadian Cancer Society with the Running Room's Learn to Walk or Run 5 km clinic. Participants are supported by a Quit Coach through a gradual 10-week Learn-to-Run clinic in combination with evidence-based smoking cessation strategies. Learn more here or on the Run To Quit website >
Physician Supports
Practice Support Program
Learn more about the PSP learning modules >
Online Indigenous Cultural Competency
See the Indigenous Cultural Safety website for further details about registering for this program.
Cowichan First Nations Resource List
Access the resource list >
Inpatient Care Mentorship Program
Learn more about the mentorship program >