KAMLOOPS — It’s the latest technology to help ease the doctor shortage in rural B.C.
“Tele-medicine” will soon be a reality for patients in Kamloops.
Kipp Mallery will be among two pharmacies in Kamloops and all of Western Canada which will soon offer Medview MD Healthcare services through video technology.
Owner Kristina Gifford says she partnered with the private medical company to alleviate the stress on the medical system by helping patients who are without a doctor and to ease long lineups at walk in clinics.
“Essentially it’s staffed with a Registered Practical Nurse. The nurse will do an intake and history check of a patient and then they will dial up a doctor online. The patient will then be able to interact with the doctor,” says Gifford.
The medical office in the basement of Kipp Mallery will include a waiting room and a reception desk.
The examination room will have a medical bed, specialized equipment and a large computer where the physician will be live streamed.
Gifford says, “Medview will have different doctors on their staff. They’re all B.C. doctors and there’s no cost or anything. It’s as if a patient went to a local doctor. When the patient and doctor are ready, they will literally dial up whatever doctor is set for that particular time schedule.”
Kipp Mallery hopes the service will be up and running by mid-March.
