Clearwater and area residents are advised that the emergency department at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital will be closed from 4 p.m. April 6 to 7 a.m. April 7 due to unforeseen limited staffing availability. 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 9-1-1. 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.

Ashcroft and area residents are advised of a temporary closure of the emergency department at the Ashcroft Hospital and Community Health Care Centre this weekend due to unforeseen limited staffing availability.   Normal emergency department hours in Ashcroft are currently 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.   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 9-1-1. Visit the emergency department at one of the following facilities: Royal Inland Hospital – 311 Columbia Street, Kamloops Nicola Valley Hospital - 3451 Voght Street, Merritt Call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 (24 hour service) if you are unsure of your need to seek emergency care.   The emergency department is expected to re-open April 8 at 5 p.m.

Clearwater and area residents are advised that the emergency department at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital will be closed from 5 a.m. April 3 to 7 a.m. April 5 due to unforeseen limited staffing availability.   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 9-1-1. 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.

Interior Health is actively recruiting healthcare staff in Ashcroft and throughout the region. “We are recruiting to fill vacancies in the beautiful community of Ashcroft and offering a variety of incentives such as relocation assistance and loan forgiveness programs to encourage rewarding careers in health-care,” said Interior Health president and CEO, Susan Brown. “Anyone interested in making a positive difference in people’s lives and living in some of the most beautiful communities in the world, should consider career opportunities with Interior Health.”   Why Choose Interior Health? Relocation Assistance - Qualified candidates for permanent and temporary placements may be eligible for financial relocation assistance to help you with the move. Rural Retention Grant – Registered Nurses who have made an employment commitment to fill positions in hard-to-fill locations in the Interior’s rural and remote communities, including Ashcroft, may be eligible for the Rural Retention Grant. BC Top Employer – The employees, physicians and volunteers have made Interior Health a top employer. This special designation recognizes the BC employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. BC Loan Forgiveness Program – Recent graduates in select in-demand occupations can have their BC student loans forgiven by agreeing to work in communities, such as Ashcroft. Check out the program details to see if you’re eligible. "Ashcroft is one of the best-kept secrets in the Interior, a place that combines small town charm and friendliness with the services and amenities of a much larger centre. An hour from Kamloops, two-and-a-half hours from the Okanagan, and three hours from the Lower Mainland, Ashcroft boasts one of the best climates in the province, making it the perfect place for outdoor adventures all year round,” said Barbara Roden, Mayor of the Village of Ashcroft. “There's a wide range of sports at our many facilities, as well as dance classes, voice and handbell choirs, live theatre, a vibrant arts scene, and much more, including the Ashcroft HUB with its full-service gym, fitness classes, after-school programs, day camps, and much more. See what makes Ashcroft a town where people come for a short time and stay for a lifetime."   Other Benefits Available to Interior Health Employees Extended Health & Dental Coverage Group Life Insurance, Long Term Disability, Accidental Death & Dismemberment Employee & Family Assistance Program Pension Plan & Retirement Employer Paid Vacation Maternity, Parental and Adoption Leaves Education and In-house learning opportunities Wellness Programs Interior Health is currently recruiting for a variety of positions in Ashcroft including: Community Health Workers, Licensed Practical Nurses; Emergency Nurses, Cleaners, and Medical Radiography Technologists. For more information on available opportunities, please visit our career site.

Spring is here and the warmer weather means more people will be out hiking in tall grass or wooded areas which can also mean an increased chance of getting tick bites. Ticks are small bugs that bite and feed on the blood of humans and animals and can sometimes transmit disease. Fortunately, there are precautions people can take to prevent illnesses that may be transmitted from tick bites. “There are easy things you can do to protect yourself from ticks such as covering up before you head outdoors and checking for ticks when returning from a walk, hike or bike ride,” said Dr. Fatemeh Sabet, Interior Health medical health officer. “Most tick bites do not result in illness; however, any bite from a tick should be cleaned because infection can occur whenever there is a break in the skin.”  Ticks also have toxins that can cause temporary muscle weakness and paralysis if they are attached for several days – especially in children or seniors – but the symptoms fade once the tick is removed from the skin. The signs of many tick-borne infections can be quite similar and include fever, headache, muscle pain and rash.  One of the most important ways to reduce the risk of tick illnesses is to do a skin check on yourself and your children after being outdoors. As well, follow these additional precautions: Walk on cleared trails when in tall grass or wooded areas. Wear a hat, long sleeves, pants and light-coloured clothing. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots. Apply insect repellent containing DEET on uncovered skin. Carefully check clothing and scalp (covered or not) when leaving an area where ticks may live. Regularly check household pets for ticks. If you find a tick on yourself, a family member or pet, wear gloves when removing it and be careful not to crush the tick as this could cause it to inject its stomach contents into your skin. Other tips to remove ticks safely include: Use needle-nose tweezers to gently grasp the tick close to the skin. Without squeezing, pull the tick straight out. After removal, clean the area with soap and water. If you find a tick, check very carefully for others. You can report a tick and submit a photo to eTick.ca to have it identified. Most individuals with acute Lyme disease do not notice the biting tick that precedes the illness. If you have concerns or need assistance removing a tick, please contact your family doctor or visit a walk-in medical clinic. Quick facts: While ticks are common in the Interior Health region, most are the wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni) which do not carry the Lyme disease bacteria. The wood tick can carry other diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, although it is rare. Lyme disease-carrying ticks (I. pacificus) are more common in the coastal areas of B.C. Anyone who has the typical bull’s-eye target skin rash of Lyme disease, or other symptoms compatible with Lyme disease, should see their physician. More information is available at: HealthLink BC: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthlinkbc-files/tick-bites-and-disease   BCCDC Lyme Disease information: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/lyme-disease-borrelia-burgdorferi-infection

Interior Health is adding 17 new positions this spring to continue expanding mental health and substance use supports for people in Kamloops and the surrounding area. “People throughout the Kamloops area will benefit from this major expansion of mental health and substance-use services,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Our government is transforming mental health and substance-use care in every B.C. community, and building a system of care that did not exist five years ago.” These new positions will support a variety of mental health and substance use programs including early psychosis intervention; substance use connections for youth; youth day treatment; and youth intensive case management. In addition to expanding existing services, Interior Health is introducing new substance use counselling and treatment for young people. “We are committed to strengthening the delivery of primary care, mental health, and substance use services in Kamloops,” said Interior Health president and CEO, Susan Brown. “Expanding these services is a vital part of our response to the toxic drug crisis and further supports the range of mental health and addictions care available in Kamloops.” Planning is underway to bring services already provided throughout the community, including primary care, together under one roof. Consolidating these primary care services with some mental health and substance use programs at IH’s 235 Lansdowne Street location will provide a better experience for patients, clients and care providers. Over time, the mobile supervised consumption vehicle will be decommissioned and its services will transition to this clinic allowing for enhanced connections between clients and care teams. “Research shows the integration of nursing, primary care and substance use treatment programs leads to better health outcomes for people who could benefit from supervised consumption services,” said Interior Health medical health office, Dr. Carol Fenton. The introduction of new and expanded supports, including the relocation of services, will occur over time as renovations and recruitment occurs.   Learn more: To learn more about primary care and mental health and substance use services in Interior Health visit interiorhealth.ca. To learn about the BC Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions vision for a comprehensive mental health and substance use system of care read A Pathway to Hope.

Document : drug-alert-penticton-march 25-2022.pdf 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 is pleased to report that a new radiology room is being well used by people in Chase and the surrounding area since opening earlier this year.     After opening to patients on Jan. 31, 2022, the new machine has produced more than 350 patient exams with some patients needing more than one X-ray per visit.     A $620,000 capital investment in the Chase and District Health Centre resulted in the renovation of the radiology room and installation of a new Siemens X-ray machine, featuring the latest technology that allows for quicker imaging.     As part of the project, the health centre received a complete electrical upgrade.     “This new machine is making a big difference in the care we are providing in Chase,” said Interior Health president and CEO, Susan Brown. “People in Chase and the surrounding areas no longer have to travel to receive an X-ray. The new equipment is providing a more reliable service and has enhanced working conditions for our health-care team.”     The radiology room provides a comfortable and modern healing environment and supports a safe work place with an ergonomic work station.     Stories@IH: New X-Ray machine benefits Chase and surrounding communities     The Chase Health Centre serves some 3,000 people in the community of Chase and the surrounding region.

People in Kamloops and throughout the Thompson, Cariboo and Shuswap regions are closer to improved access to health-care services as the construction phase completes for the Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Tower at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH). View the full release