In the News

  • Doctors dispute need for Salmon Arm urgent and primary care centre

    Vernon Morning Star: Salmon Arm doctors are concerned a provincial initiative designed to improve access to health care services could be detrimental to local medical practices. In November 2019, an urgent and primary care centre (UPCC) opened in Vernon. The 13th such centre announced in B.C., Health Minister Adrian Dix said the facility would provide a “completely different model” from a walk-in clinic, connecting patients to full-time primary care providers and using a team-based approach for certain types of cases, such as patients suffering from mental health issues and addictions.

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  • Vernon urgent care clinic serves 1,274 since opening

    Vernon Morning News: Since opening its doors in October, 2019, the Vernon Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) has served 1,274 patients already. This is the 13th UPCC announced in the B.C. government’s primary care strategy and is expected to serve 42,000 patients annually in its new facility that will be open seven days a week, evenings, weekends and statutory holidays.

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  • New urgent care centre

    Castanet: The new urgent and primary care centre has already had more than 100 patients roll through. "A little over one-in-four people who go to Kelowna General Hospital in the emergency would be as well or better served coming in right here," said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. The facility features six exam rooms, two treatment rooms, a consultation room, a waiting room and a medication room.  Currently, the centre is open seven days-a-week from 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with hours expected to expand in the coming months.

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  • Health care access, cost of travel top concerns for B.C. rural residents

    Vernon Morning Star: Researchers looking into health care in rural areas are hearing that barriers to transportation and travel are major concerns. That’s one of the common themes found by the Rural Evidence Review, a study being conducted by the University of British Columbia’s Centre for Rural Health Research.

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  • Hospital over capacity again in 2018-19

    Coast Reporter: Sechelt Hospital was recently ranked among the 10 most overcrowded hospitals in the province for the 2018-19 fiscal year, and Ministry of Health statistics obtained by Coast Reporter suggest occupancy rates in Sechelt are being driven up by patients who would normally be in assisted living or long-term care but have no option other than an acute care bed.

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  • Urgent care centre opens

    Castanet: Kelowna's new urgent and primary care centre officially opens on Thursday. B.C. Minister of Health Adrian Dix will officially open the centre at 11:15 a.m., at the former Bank of Montreal building beside the Capri Centre Mall. The centre will operate full time with the equivalent of 22 employees, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, social workers, respiratory therapists and physiotherapists.

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