Harmonica lessons offer a unique form of lung disease rehab

4 minutes

The sound of a harmonica playing Happy Birthday is heard down the hall of the Kamloops Primary Care Clinic, making those around smile. 

It’s Wednesday, which means a Harmonicas for Health (and Happiness) virtual class is taking place. Participants from across Interior Health are receiving a harmonica lesson and being led through guided breathing exercises. Along with an artistic spirit, the participants share another thing in common; they have a lung disease known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. 

Temporary service interruption tonight at Nicola Valley Hospital emergency department

1 minute

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.

We Are IH: Digital Health staff engage in extraordinary hobbies

4 minutes

Interior Health (IH) has a Digital Health (information technology) team committed to continuously adapting, responding and innovating to meet the needs of our population, while also supporting an efficient patient and provider experience.

The Digital Health team ensures resources and technology are used effectively across all geographic service areas. Meet two members of our dedicated digital health team who help make these new innovations possible.

Tips on maintaining oral health to help prevent falls

2 minutes

As we get older, we’re more likely to have problems with our mouth and teeth, which may result in problems with chewing, pain, tooth loss, and partial or full dentures.

These issues may negatively impact one's ability to eat nutritious foods (fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, nuts, for example) and result in weight loss, muscle weakness, bone loss, malnutrition and/or increased frailty in older adults - adding up to an increased risk of falling and having a fall-related injury. 

Dr. Harsh Hundal strengthens reconciliation and inclusion at IH

2 minutes

We would like to begin this story by recognizing and acknowledging that we’re collectively gathered on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the seven Interior Region First Nations. This region is also home to 15 Chartered Métis Communities. It is with humility that we continue to strengthen our relationships with First Nation, Métis, and Inuit peoples across the Interior.

It’s a fitting way to begin a story whose subject is Dr. Harsh Hundal, a champion for inclusion and reconciliation within the health-care system since joining Interior Health in 2015.