Harm Reduction Physician Series: Dr. Megan Hill

2 minutes

Based in the Okanagan, Dr. Megan Hill is a family physician (FP) with a subspecialty in addictions medicine.  Dr. Hill first encountered harm reduction in med school. “I wrote a paper on Insite (Vancouver’s supervised consumption site) and was immediately drawn to the evidence and logic behind this approach,” she says. “It’s a profoundly logical approach to helping people get better by engaging them and giving them medications that help them feel better as opposed to being punitive.

Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding in Penticton

6 minutes

If you're having a baby in Penticton, you’re part of an international initiative to improve the care that families receive before, during and after the birth of their baby, thanks to the Baby-Friendly Initiative.

The Baby-Friendly Initiative, or BFI, is a World Health Organization and UNICEF program that guides health-care providers in breastfeeding best practices, and ensures families have the support they need and want.

Interior Health reduces its carbon footprint by collecting waste anesthetic gases

2 minutes

Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops has completed a three-year project that will see waste anesthetic gases (WAGs) collected in all 11 of its operating rooms, significantly reducing the hospital’s carbon footprint.

Anesthetic gases used for surgeries are a known potent source of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Only five per cent of anesthetic gas is metabolized by the body, while the remaining 95 per cent is typically collected and vented out of the operating room and building.

Vaccines Help Protect Us

2 minutes

During National Immunization Awareness Week (April 24 – 30), Interior Health encourages individuals and families to stay on track with their immunizations.

“It is hard to imagine a world without vaccines,” said Dr. Fatemeh Sabet, Interior Health medical health officer. “I am so grateful for having access to a simple tool that has saved millions of lives and prevented serious consequences of so many vaccine preventable communicable diseases.”

Immunizations protect health in childhood and beyond

2 minutes

Kamloops mother Julie Smith has never doubted the importance of routine immunizations in keeping herself and her family healthy.

Even following a febrile seizure during their routine 18-month immunization, she is committed to keeping her children as healthy as possible and keeping their vaccine schedule on track.

“Children’s health and immunity is very important, it’s just an added layer of protection. I always get my vaccines including my flu shots and make sure we stay up-to-date.”

Building a sustainable health-care system

3 minutes

In the past few years, British Columbians have faced increasingly challenging environmental and climate related events. Extreme heat, wildfires and floods are a few examples of disasters that have significantly affected those living in the Interior and the rest of B.C.

This interdependence between our health and the environment compels us to continue our work to reduce our environmental footprint toward a low-carbon future.