Image: Interior Health

By Dylana Kneeshaw

NO DOCTOR'S NOTE NEEDED

Self-referral option added to Interior Health’s Virtual Addiction Medicine Clinic

Sep 5, 2024 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Interior Health recently rolled out another option that allows people living with an addiction to access care. IH has expanded its virtual addiction medicine clinic to offer people with alcohol or substance use disorders the option to self-refer for an appointment, rather than requiring a referral from a doctor.

With a self referral, a client doesn’t need to have a home address or even a Personal Health Number to request an appointment. They’re contacted by a clinician within 24 hours and can meet with an addiction medicine specialist over the phone or in a video conference.

Karen Omelchuk is a Director of Operations for Mental Health and Substance Use with Interior Health. She says the self-referral form is meant to be a low-barrier avenue for people to access the virtual services, which have been operational for around three years.

“I think it’s a really, really exciting service and I think it’s much needed — particularly for some of our smaller areas. We’re so fortunate in Kelowna, Kamloops and some of the larger centres where we have that critical mass of providers, and this is a really important option for some of our smaller communities who just don’t have that same access.”

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According to the initial release from Interior Health, the virtual team works with the client to develop a treatment plan, and once the client is feeling comfortable with the care plan, they are referred to health services based in their community.

The virtual clinic can be found at www.interiorhealth.ca/vam.