8-1-1 Health Line has connected 600 residents with primary care

“We’ve got about 5,800 people that are on that waitlist, but I know over 600 patients have been connected to primary care, either nurse practitioners or physicians. I run into people every week that have told me they’ve had an appointment with a nurse practitioner on the North Shore, and they’ve been extremely impressed,” said Lake.

In October, as part of its four-point health plan, the province promised half a dozen locum doctors in Kamloops. But it’s been harder than first thought to attract them here.

“There’s one locum that is working with Dr. Vlahos’ team [at the Norkam Healthcare Centre],” noted Lake. “We are working with the other clinics to see if there’s a need there. What we’ve done is essentially increase the incentive for locums to come to Kamloops.

“It’s unusual to have the province allow a city like Kamloops to have the same sort of program as the smaller communities. But given Kamloops’ situation, they’ve extended that and actually increased that incentive. So we are seeing some results of that. We have two Practice Ready Assessment physicians coming in April, and more coming over the next couple months.”

by Chad Klassen

8-1-1 Health Line has connected 600 residents with primary care

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