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

People in Vernon will soon have greater access to care closer to home with construction underway on 90 new publicly funded long-term care beds in the community, as part of the largest one-time increase in long-term care beds in the Interior in more than 16 years. View the full release

This year’s Earth Day theme – invest in our planet – fits perfectly with Interior Health’s commitment to protect the planet and reduce our environmental footprint.  “At Interior Health, we are focused on providing a greener health-care environment across the region,” said Interior Health president and CEO, Susan Brown. “With innovative solutions, collaboration, and new investments, we are lowering our carbon footprint and doing our part to prevent the effects of climate change.” Committed to Meeting Reduction Targets Interior Health has implemented many initiatives to lower waste, improve efficiencies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reach CleanBC targets. Changes, both big and small, reduce health sector impacts on the environment and Interior Health is committed to work towards lowering our overall environmental footprint. Eliminating Styrofoam in Food Services Interior Health food services are phasing out the use of Styrofoam products, such as cups and takeout containers. Styrofoam is made of polystyrene and is slow to degrade and fills up landfills. It contains styrene, and when exposed to sunlight, can create harmful air pollutants and further contaminate landfills and deplete the ozone layer. During manufacturing, the process releases large amounts of ozone into the atmosphere, causing respiratory and environmental issues. Interior Health’s commitment this Earth Day is to eliminate Styrofoam use, find cost-effective alternatives, and reduce the impact food services have on the planet.  Reducing Waste Gasses Interior Health is also implementing a new process to recover and collect waste anesthetic gasses and prevent any waste gasses from venting into the environment. During surgery, approximately five per cent of anesthetic gasses are metabolized by the patient. That means close to 95 per cent is exhaled and, through mechanical systems, vented out into the environment. These waste gasses are potent greenhouse gasses (GHG) contributing to climate change. Starting this summer at the Phil and Jennie Gaglardi Tower at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops, IH will deploy technology to collect the waste gasses and avoid venting. Not only will these gasses now be collected, but they’ll also be re-processed by a Health Canada licenced facility. IH will use the re-processed gasses for general anesthesia, increasing available supply in addition to eliminating the vented gasses from the environment. IH will be the first B.C. health authority to implement this full solution. “This year, our investment to eliminate Styrofoam and reprocess anesthetic waste gasses will reduce the impacts health care has on our planet,” said Donna Lommer, vice president, clinical and corporate services. “These priorities are among several other environmental sustainability and improvement initiatives underway at Interior Health.” Climate change and health leadership A new lead position is being created at Interior Health to develop climate change strategies in health care. This individual will work with medical health officers, environmental public health, healthy communities teams, Aboriginal health and community partners to address the impacts and adapt to the ongoing challenges of climate change on the overall health of communities. “Climate change is one of the greatest health challenges facing communities in Interior Health as we are seeing with increased fires, flooding and extreme heat events. We all have a role to play in fighting climate change and this new position was created to help Interior Health move forward with our partners in doing everything we can to reduce our own impacts and support the broader health of our communities,” said Dr. Sue Pollock, interim chief medical health officer. Interior Health is in the process of filling this important new position.

The Penticton Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) is celebrating one year of expanded access to services and team-based health care in the community. “The urgent and primary care centre has proven to be a valuable community resource in Penticton,” said Interior Health president and CEO, Susan Brown. “Whether it’s being used to treat someone’s urgent care needs to prevent an unnecessary emergency department visit, or connecting people to mental health and substance use supports, it has seen more than 17,000 visits since opening last year.” Located at 101 – 437 Martin Street, the Penticton UPCC provides longitudinal primary care services for people with mental health and substance use needs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, and then provides urgent primary care services from 5 to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday and 12 to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays. During the day, services include mental health and substance-use health care, opioid agonist treatment, access to specialized mental health and substance use services like case management, women’s health support and counselling referrals. During the evenings and weekends, the Penticton UPCC provides team-based care for non-emergency health concerns to individuals in Penticton who require same day attention. Care is available for concerns such as minor injuries, sprains and strains, infections, less serious child illness and injury, high fever, and cuts, wounds or skin conditions. Patients can call 250-770-3696 during daytime hours to book an urgent care appointment for evenings and weekends. “After injuring my knee during spring break, I called the Penticton urgent and primary care centre to have it checked out. The staff were great and I was able to see a physiotherapist and have it looked at right away,” said Peter Verge, a Penticton community member. “If it wasn’t for this place, I would have ended up in the emergency department.” During a visit, someone may be seen by a physician, a nurse practitioner, a registered nurse, or another health professional such as a social worker, mental health worker, or a physiotherapist, depending on their needs. “It’s great working in a multi-disciplinary team as this makes caring for a patient very easy,” said Dr. Wessel Joubert, physician lead for urgent care at the Penticton UPCC. “It helps divide the workload, everyone practices to their full scope, and the patients get a holistic wrap-around service.” In collaboration with the South Okanagan Similkameen Division of Family Practice, the UPCC also assists in connecting patients without a primary care provider to a family doctor or nurse practitioner either at the centre or in the community. The Penticton UPCC is part of the South Okanagan Similkameen Primary Care Network. It is a collaboration between Interior Health, the Ministry of Health, the South Okanagan Similkameen Division of Family Practice, the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional Hospital District, the Martin Street Outreach Centre Association, OneSky Community Resources and local Indigenous partners, including the Penticton Indian Band and Ooknakane Friendship Centre. Interior Health has seven Urgent and Primary Care Centres located in Castlegar, Cranbrook, Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon and West Kelowna.

Clearwater and area residents are advised of a temporary change to the emergency department hours at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital this weekend due to unforeseen limited staffing availability. The emergency department will be closed: 6 p.m. Saturday, April 16 to 7 a.m. Sunday, April 17 6 p.m. Monday, April 18 to 7 a.m. Tuesday, April 19 Interior Health regrets this temporary change to normal operations and reminds residents to take note of the following if they require care while the emergency department is closed: In the event of an emergency, call 911. Visit the emergency department at one of the following facilities: Royal Inland Hospital – 311 Columbia Street, Kamloops Call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 (24 hour service) if you are unsure of your need to seek emergency care The emergency department in Clearwater is normally open 24/7.

On April 14, 2016, the increasing number of opioid overdoses prompted the Province to declare a public health emergency. Six years later, close to 1,500* family members, friends, coworkers, teammates, neighbours and friends have been lost to overdose within the Interior Health region alone. In recognition of this sombre anniversary, IH mental health and substance use teams and community partners will display black balloons in communities across Interior Health on April 14. This acknowledgement of all those lost is inspired by international Black Balloon Day which took place on March 6. “Interior Health continues to expand harm reduction measures and invest in mental health and substance use services,” says Interior Health president and CEO, Susan Brown. “We know the steps taken over the last six years, such as distribution of Take Home Naloxone kits, introduction of drug-checking services, opening new supervised consumption services and expanding substance use treatment, have saved countless lives. Unfortunately, the crisis continues in the face of an increasingly unpredictable, poisonous drug supply. We never lose sight of the lives lost and continue to work hard to expand access to harm reduction and treatment.” Across Interior Health, mental health and substance use services have been expanding alongside increasing overdose prevention services. New youth substance use services including inpatient treatment, counselling, intensive case management and withdrawal management beds have been added recently, along with record investments in adult substance use services. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call 310-MHSU or visit interiorhealth.ca to learn more. How can you help? On April 14, display black balloons at your business/home. Take the pledge – avoid stigmatizing language around substance use. Carry a naloxone kit and learn how to use it. Find a location where you can get a kit and training. Start a conversation – whether you are a parent, friend, or colleague, talking about overdose prevention and substance use is a crucial step. Learn how to identify and respond to an overdose. Call 911 in case of overdose – the Good Samaritan law can protect people from drug possession charges if they experience or call 911 after witnessing an overdose. *BC Coroner's Service Drug Toxicity Reports 2016 - 2022

As part of continued expansions in mental health and substance use supports, Interior Health is introducing new outpatient withdrawal management services in four communities and a new virtual option to make accessing care easier across the region.   “When people with substance use challenges make the courageous decision to reach out for help, there needs to be services to meet them where they are at,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “With new outpatient withdrawal management options across the Interior, more people will be able to access the help they need – faster. This is just one step as our government continues to build a comprehensive and seamless continuum of mental health and additions care that works for all British Columbians.” The outpatient model means a person doesn’t need to be admitted to a facility to receive withdrawal support. Instead, patients will receive care, including the prescribing of medications as required, in their own home. “Each person’s experience with addiction, and path to recovery, is unique,” said Interior Health president and CEO, Susan Brown. “Interior Health is pleased to be expanding outpatient withdrawal services, and we are committed to supporting people across the region in their recovery journeys.” In addition to creating a regional virtual addiction medicine clinic, new outpatient withdrawal management teams will run seven days a week in Penticton, Kamloops, Vernon and Kelowna. The new nursing positions have been posted and recruitment is ongoing. Services will be implemented as these staff are hired and trained, with service starts anticipated by summer 2022.   These new outpatients programs are in addition to expanded services in the North Okanagan, five new youth withdrawal management beds recently awarded in Kamloops, 22 adult withdrawal beds to serve people across the Okanagan, Integrated Treatment Teams to provide multidisciplinary outreach to people who need flexible support, and growing access to Opioid Agonist Treatment through IH’s nurse prescriber program. For information on substance use services in Interior Health, visit interiorhealth.ca or call 310-MHSU (6478). Quick facts: Medically supported withdrawal management, sometimes called detox, is an important option for people with significant alcohol or other substance use concerns. Beyond physical and mental discomfort, withdrawal can cause medical complications that put people at risk of seizures, hallucinations, and even death. The outpatient model is expected to be particularly helpful for people who may face barriers in accessing inpatient (bed-based) withdrawal management.

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

Interior Health has awarded a contract for five new youth withdrawal management beds in Kamloops. “Our government is working urgently to build a comprehensive and seamless continuum of care and these new youth withdrawal management beds are a vital part of that,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “These beds will help youth in the Interior on their pathway to recovery.” These five beds are in addition to 10 youth substance use treatment beds announced a year ago for Kamloops and another 10 in Kelowna. “Interior Health is committed to expanding and strengthening substance use services in Kamloops and the surrounding area,” said Interior Health president and CEO, Susan Brown. “Thanks to support from the Province and community partners, we are pleased to offer more services for young people struggling with substance use challenges.” This contract is awarded to Kamloops Society for Alcohol and Drug Services to provide community-based youth withdrawal management services, housing and hospitality services in its Phoenix Centre facility. The target population is individuals living in Interior Health aged 12 to 24 who are seeking withdrawal management for a variety of substance use challenges. “We are excited to support young clients in a safe and culturally relevant environment and implement a philosophy of care that is client-directed with a focus on developing strengths and resiliency,” said Phoenix Centre executive director, Siân Lewis. The new beds are expected to open this fall. Withdrawal management – sometimes called detox – provides short-term medical supervision and support to people who are experiencing withdrawal symptoms related to the discontinuation of alcohol and some drugs. In certain circumstances, medical supervision is important because of the potentially serious health risks related to withdrawal. Clients accessing this service stay in a facility with 24-hour staff support from a multi-disciplinary team. In addition to medically supervised support for withdrawing from alcohol or other drugs, other services are available such as supportive counselling, substance use education, daily programming, and referrals to relevant services to support ongoing journey to recovery. The new beds in Interior Health are part of the Province’s commitment to double the number of youth substance use beds available in B.C. announced on August 13, 2020. The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions committed to implementing 123 new beds across the province as part of the 10-year strategy Pathway to Hope. Mental health and substance use services for people throughout the Interior continue to develop. Integrated Treatment Teams are working throughout Interior Health to embed multidisciplinary outreach to people who need flexible support that works for them. Access to Opioid Agonist Treatment is growing, with the nurse prescriber program continuing to expand; and more mental health and substance use clinicians hired in communities across Interior Health. For more information about substance use services in Interior Health, visit www.interiorhealth.ca. Quick facts: Withdrawal management beds are one piece of a continuum of care for addiction issues. Others include outpatient-based and in-patient treatment. It is important to have a range of services available as each person’s experience with addiction is unique, as is their experience of recovery. The new beds will be available for youth living anywhere in Interior Health between the ages of 12-24 who are experiencing withdrawal symptoms related to the discontinuation of alcohol and some drugs. Interior Health is committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and providing a wide range of quality health-care services to more than 801,000 people living across B.C.’s vast interior. For more information, visit www.interiorhealth.ca, follow us on Twitter @Interior_Health, Instagram @interiorhealthbc or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/interiorhealth.ca. Kamloops Society for Alcohol and Drug Services (KSADS) has been providing substance use services and advocacy for individuals, families and communities in the Interior region since 1973. The Society opened the Phoenix Centre in 1982 offering in-patient medical withdrawal management (detox) and outpatient programming for youth, adults and families. Services include Detox, Supportive Transitional Living in Recovery (STLR), Raven (youth counselling and support to families), Osprey (day treatment programming for youth involved with MCFD) and Adolescent Outreach (youth counselling services in both Merritt and Kamloops). KSADS also works closely with school districts in both Kamloops and Merritt providing onsite support to youth dealing with substance use issues. – 30 – Media, for information: Interior Health Media@interiorhealth.ca                       1-844-469-7077 Siân Lewis, Executive Director Phoenix Centre Kamloops Society for Alcohol and Drug Services sian.lewis@phoenixcentre.org 250-374-4634