Public health officials with Interior Health (IH) remind everyone there is still time to get your influenza vaccine (flu shot) and those six months and older are eligible. It’s easier than ever to get immunity for your community. Influenza vaccinations are free for everyone in B.C. six months of age or older, to best protect themselves, their loved ones, their communities and the health-care system this fall and winter. “With a surge of respiratory illness in fall and winter, we encourage everyone to get an influenza vaccine for protection, especially while more people are socializing or traveling,” says Dr. Fatemeh Sabet, an Interior Health medical health officer.  Families can book an appointment through the Get Vaccinated system. Families with a child under 12 only need to book one appointment in a 6 month to 11 year clinic, and the whole family can get their COVID and influenza vaccines at the same time. Immunization appointments for people 12 and older are available at select community pharmacies and IH clinics, and are booked through the Get Vaccinated system. It’s safe to get your COVID-19 booster at the same time as getting your influenza vaccination. Although booking through the Get Vaccinated system is the most efficient way to access an influenza vaccine, limited walk-ins at some pharmacies continue to be available. Alternatively, you can phone the provincial call centre (toll-free) at 1-833-838-2323. If no appointments are available when you book, try again later or expand your search area; new appointments are added daily. Getting immunized helps protect you and those around you by reducing the spread of influenza. Influenza can cause serious illness requiring hospitalization, which places additional demand on the health-care system that is still also seeing impacts from COVID-19. Influenza vaccines are safe and effective. They have undergone rigorous review before getting approved by Health Canada. In addition to getting vaccinated against influenza, frequent handwashing, respecting personal space, cough etiquette and staying home when sick continue to be important methods to limit the spread of germs.

Merritt and area residents are advised of a temporary change to emergency department hours at Nicola Valley Hospital due to unexpected limited staff availability. Starting at 6 p.m. tonight, Nov. 15, to 8 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, emergency services will be unavailable in Merritt and patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops or Kelowna General Hospital. During this time, all other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  The emergency department in Merritt is normally open 24/7.

Please see the attached document to learn more about the look, contamination, and risk associated with the current drug alert.   View more toxic drug, environmental, and COVID-19 alerts

Please see the attached document to learn more about the look, contamination, and risk associated with the current drug alert.   View more toxic drug, environmental, and COVID-19 alerts

A $22-million capital investment will fund an expanded oncology clinic at Penticton Regional Hospital. “We’re proud that the expansion of the oncology clinic at Penticton Regional Hospital will benefit people across the region, as patients and families will continue to be able to receive medical oncology treatments and followup care closer to home,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. The project will more than double the capacity of the existing department and provide a modern setting and a welcoming environment to receive care. “A newly renovated and modern cancer clinic space will provide the kind of healing space that we all know our residents need,” said Roly Russell, MLA for Boundary-Similkameen. “Beyond that, it will also support the critical need for recruitment and retention of more skilled health-care professionals in our region, which is top of mind for all of us. So many families across the Interior will benefit and be given better options to receive care closer to home with our expanded oncology clinic, thanks to this huge capital investment in care.” With the incidence of cancer estimated to increase in the Interior over the next 20 years, an expanded oncology clinic will support the expected increase in demand for outpatient medical oncology services provided at the Penticton Regional Hospital. “Providing enhanced care spaces that support patient care and improve working conditions for staff and physicians are key parts of our investment strategy,” said Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health. “With support from the South Okanagan Similkameen (SOS) Medical Foundation and the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional Hospital District, this investment will help provide timely access to cancer treatments for residents across the South Okanagan and Similkameen.” The expansion is funded through a partnership between the Ministry of Health through Interior Health, the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional Hospital District and the SOS Medical Foundation. The Okanagan-Similkameen Regional Hospital District is contributing $3.2 million to the project, and the SOS Medical Foundation has kicked off the Better Care Better Outcomes campaign with the goal to raise $10 million to bring more cancer care closer to home for residents of the South Okanagan and Similkameen: https://sosmedicalfoundation.com/ “The expansion of oncology services at Penticton Regional Hospital is very exciting news for everyone touched by cancer in the South Okanagan and Similkameen,” said Sally Ginter, CEO, SOS Medical Foundation. “Our foundation is committed to working with our health partners and our donors to realize this vision. The communities in our region are generous, and I am confident that they will see the importance of this expansion and help us reach our fundraising goal of $10 million.” The SOS Medical Foundation’s oncology campaign began with a $500,000 gift from Essio Truant, donated in memory of his late wife Dianne. Truant has since died. “Expanding the oncology clinic at Penticton Regional Hospital is an important step forward for patients and staff,” said Martin Johansen, chair, Okanagan-Similkameen Regional Hospital District. “Increasing patient capacity and working conditions will ensure Penticton Regional Hospital continues to be a world-class health-care facility.” Planning is underway for the expansion of the Penticton Regional Hospital Community Oncology Network clinic. The existing clinic will remain open while the relocation and renovations take place. The new clinic is anticipated to be open to patients in November 2024. Read original release from BC Gov News

Local residents in the Clearwater area who are enrolled in MyHealthPortal will now be able to book outpatient X-ray appointments online. Interior Health launched MyHealthPortal in June 2016, which provides convenient and secure access to users’ personal health information including lab results, medical imaging reports, patient visit history, and more. MyHealthPortal is expanding to allow patients to self-schedule X-ray appointments at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital in Clearwater. Appointments will be scheduled for Oct. 17 and onwards. Patients, caregivers and families must be enrolled users of MyHealthPortal to book an X-ray appointment. Visit www.interiorhealth.ca/myhealthportal to learn how to enrol. Patients, caregivers and families who have not registered for MyHealthPortal may still access a limited number of first come-first served walk-in appointments Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Patients, caregivers and families must have a copy of their X-ray requisition to book online or attend a walk-in appointment. Appointments will not be booked by phone after Nov. 1, 2022 so it is advised to sign up for a MyHealthPortal account if walk-in appointments are not convenient. All Holter and ECG exams will continue to be booked with patients by phone. For assistance with scheduling an appointment or enrolling with MyHealthPortal, residents may call the Digital Health Support Desk at 1-844-870-4756.

People in Cranbrook and surrounding areas will have access to new treatment and recovery options, as well as expanded mental health and substance use services, as the Province continues to build a comprehensive system of care throughout British Columbia. Through Interior Health, the Province is adding 10 beds at the Recovery Ranch by Edgewood Health Network in the Cranbrook area, including five young adult substance-use treatment beds and five adult withdrawal management beds. First Nations, Métis and Inuit people within the Interior Health region will be given priority for these beds. “When people in the Cranbrook region make the courageous decision to reach out for help, we want services close to home,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “These 10 treatment beds, plus expanded mental health services, will help people get on their pathway to recovery. In addition to the hundreds of treatment beds we’ve already opened, they’re a vital part of the system of care we’re working urgently to build.” In addition, the Province is expanding existing mental health and substance-use supports for youth and adults in the region. This includes adding health-care workers to the intensive case management team, which provides support to people experiencing severe mental-health and/or substance-use concerns, and the integrated treatment team, which provides flexible substance-use treatment. New early psychosis intervention services are also being added to support people in the early years of living with psychosis. In total, 12 additional staff positions will support these expanded services, which are now offered out of the new office location at 2 - 926 Baker St. “The care provided at the Recovery Ranch will help people be successful in the early days of their recovery by providing well-supported withdrawal management,” said Diane Shendruk, vice-president, clinical operations (North), Interior Health. “In addition, the facility will strive to offer culturally safe care in a stable setting for young adults to focus on their longer-term wellness goals.” Enhancing supports for people living with mental-health and substance-use needs, as well as treatment and recovery options, is an integral part of A Pathway to Hope, B.C.’s roadmap for building the comprehensive system of mental-health and addictions care for British Columbians. Quotes: Carlee Campbell, director of operations, Western Canada, Edgewood Health Network – “We are excited about the opportunity to dive into this work, in collaboration with partners in the community and Interior Health, and continue developing the landscape for a recovery-oriented system of care in the Interior. We hope to provide excellent, short- and long-term, person-centered and self-directed services, that are evidence-based, and will strengthen all patient's recovery capital and will honour both the individual needs of patients, while also relying on the strength of best practice.” Christina Basedow, vice-president Western Canada, Edgewood Health Network – “Edgewood Health Network (EHN Canada) is honoured to have this opportunity for collaboration and connection with Interior Health, and the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions in British Columbia. Our purpose is to provide all Canadians with accessible, affordable and excellent care for the treatment of substance-use disorder and concurrent mental health. This collaboration will allow many residents of Interior Health to access life-saving and life-changing treatment, and we are truly grateful to be a part of this partnership.” Russell Purdy, executive director, Recovery Ranch – “As a person in long-term recovery and now fortunate to work in the field, it brings me hope for people struggling with the disease of addiction to have the opportunity to access detox and treatment in a time that it is desperately needed. The partnership between Interior Health and Edgewood Health Network is a great step in bridging the gap for those who want to get help.” Anonymous client – “It means a lot to me. I can access detox, while being close to family. I really did not want to leave home to get help and now I don’t have to.” Anonymous client – “Being able to come here could change my life. I don’t know what treatment will be like for me but having the option to go is something really special because I couldn’t afford it.” Learn More: Learn about A Pathway to Hope, our government’s vision for mental health and addictions care in B.C.: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021MMHA0049-001787 Read original release from BC Gov News

People who rely on Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH) in Trail are advised that the main entrance will be closed from 6 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 to 7 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4 for minor remediation work to the concrete at this location. To allow for the construction, patients and visitors will temporarily be directed to the ambulance bay entrance at KBRH. Signage will be in place to direct people to this temporary alternate entrance. The emergency department entrance is not impacted by this work. Patients requiring care in the emergency department will continue to use the normal emergency department entrance. Interior Health thanks patients and visitor for their patience as ongoing improvements to the regional hospital continue.

More people living in Ashcroft and surrounding communities have increased access to team-based health care with a new urgent and primary care centre (UPCC) opening Sept. 27, 2022. The UPCC is at the same location as the old Ashcroft Hospital & Community Health Care Centre at 700 Ash-Cache Creek Highway. “A new UPCC in Ashcroft will offer people increased access to the health care they need, when they need it,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “With the support of local health-care teams and through community collaboration, we’re strengthening primary care services throughout the province. In Ashcroft, this means that more people can access same-day, everyday health care.”   The Ashcroft UPCC is gradually opening. It will first provide urgent primary care services, including connecting patients without a primary care provider to a family doctor or nurse practitioner. Starting Sept. 27, the Ashcroft UPCC is open seven days a week, 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., with nursing and allied health teams providing team-based primary care services. Urgent care services are available for people with non-life-threatening conditions who need to see a health-care provider within 12 to 24 hours but do not require an emergency department, such as sprains, cuts, high fevers and minor infections. The primary care services available at the UPCC include diagnosis and treatment for minor illnesses, as well as provision of harm-reduction supplies and education, reproductive care, vaccinations and injections, early detection, guideline-based chronic disease management, and co-ordination of services, referrals to community services, pre- and post-surgical care, and ongoing monitoring, including of medication. “Opening this UPCC in Ashcroft is the first of its kind in Interior Health to stabilize rural health care in a model that provides urgent primary care 12 hours per day close to home, while ensuring the network connection to Royal Inland Hospital when a higher level of care is required,” said Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health. “I am also impressed with the recruitment of staff to support rural care; it indicates to me the passion health-care staff have for team-based rural medicine.” The Ashcroft UPCC is the 29th UPCC announced under government's primary care strategy. It is the result of close collaboration between the Ministry of Health, Interior Health, the Interior Rural and Remote Division of Family Practice, and local First Nations partners. It is a part of the Interior Rural Primary Care Network, and will be owned and operated by Interior Health. Quotes: Dr. John Soles, physician lead, Rural and Remote Division of Family Practice –  “The Rural and Remote Division of Family Practice recognizes the need for medical care in rural and Indigenous communities to be comprehensive, accessible and equitable. In the current rural primary care environment, community-centred, team-based care models are most likely to achieve this. We wish the Ashcroft UPCC success in bringing health care closer to this goal.” Michael Sandler, CEO, Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC – “Nurses and nurse practitioners of B.C. are pleased to see that the knowledge, skills and expertise of the entire health-care team will be utilized to improve access to health care for all British Columbians through urgent and primary care clinics. We believe that this approach will be pivotal in ensuring B.C. families can access health-care services, and we are excited to see the opening of another urgent and primary care clinic in B.C.” Learn More: To learn more about the Province's primary health-care strategy, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0034-001010 To learn more about the Province's strategy to increase the number of nurse practitioners, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018HLTH0034-000995 To learn more about the Province's strategy to recruit and retain more family medicine graduates, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018HLTH0052-001043 Read original release from BC Gov News