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