IHA's Andrew Neuner Responds To Local Concerns

June 14, 2012

Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding Interior Health's investment in Princeton health services. Your letter to the Board Chair, Norman Embree, has been forwarded to me for response as Princeton General Hospital falls within my portfolio as Vice President of Community Integrated Health Services.

Since Interior Health was formed in 2001, the Health Authority has made significant investments  in Princeton. Our records show  that, on average, Interior Health allocates $7.5 million each year  to health care services for area residents. This includes Princeton General Hospital, residential care at Ridgewood Lodge, and community services including public health, mental health, community care, rehab and home support.

In addition, capital and equipment expenses totaled $2.1 million between April 1, 2002 and March 31, 2012. Funds were allocated to projects that improve service to residents as well as working conditions for staff and physicians including an upgrade to the hospital sprinkler system, relocating community health services and new equipment for the kitchen and radiology room. Lab improvements over the past two years have included a new Blood bank refrigerator and enhancements to patient flow.

On top of that, we recently spent $148,000 on roof replacement as well as $35,000 in kitchen improvements. A $75,000 renovation to add two new exam rooms to the Cascade Medical Clinic, located at the hospital, is almost complete. These improvements are being made as Princeton physicians indicated the additional rooms would make it more efficient for them to see patients, and would be a recruitment incentive. The clinic, which was established in 2008, provides a turn
key operation for an interested physician or physicians to open up a practice.

Recent transportation improvements have also been put in place to support rural communities, and physicians, during critical care situations.

Interior Health established a High Acuity Response Team (HART), located at Penticton Regional Hospital, in March of this year. The team consists of six highly trained critical care nurses who respond with a BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) basic life support ambulance team. A respiratory therapist will be called in to assist as necessary.

HART travels to rural facilities to stabilize, support and, if necessary, transport critically ill patients to higher levels of care. Through these professionals, physicians will have greater support in managing critical situations in their home community. Rural physicians and nurses will no longer need to travel in an ambulance with a critically ill patient, which left communities without coverage, as HART will provide the necessary critical care support.

In addition, the province launched a dedicated air ambulance helicopter in August, 2011 to serve residents of the south central interior. This represents a $2.35 million annual investment. Based in Kamloops, the helicopter is available 7 days a week, generally 12 hours a day, to pick up critical care patients from facilities or accident sites and transport them to the appropriate, higher level of care.

In terms of physician recruitment and retention, which is at the core of the emergency department coverage issue, Interior Health has invested significant effort in Princeton over the past few years. We provide an apartment for locum physicians to use when they work in Princeton and over $7,000 has been spent on advertising, specific to Princeton, in an attempt to attract an additional permanent physician. Princeton has been profiled in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the BC Medical Journal and the Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine. Interior Health physician recruitment staff have showcased the community at a number of recruitment fairs. Several discussions have also occurred with the Ministry on programs to attract and retain physicians to rural and remote communities across Interior Health that face similar challenges to Princeton.

While we believe these recent investments will strengthen our efforts in this important area, I would also like to point out that recruitment and retention is a shared responsibility involving Interior Health, existing Princeton physicians and the local community. All three parties need to work together collaboratively to meet our goals.

We are making these investments in Princeton because our goal continues to be providing quality care to area residents, which includes recruiting new physicians to the area and restoring 24/7 service at the Emergency Department. To that end, we are working with Princeton Council and the Regional District to understand physician service requirements and lifestyle interests, and how best to address them.

As to your question of what percentage of your taxes support health care in the Princeton area, I think that question is best answered by the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen. The Regional Hospital District (RHD) typically supports capital expenditures for facilities under the Hospital Act on a cost sharing basis - 60% Ministry of Health/Health Authority and 40% RHD.

I hope this information is helpful. 

Sincerely,

Andrew Neuner

VP Community Integration

AN/sjs

c.c.       Mr. N. Embree, IH Board Chair

Dr. R. Halpenny, IH President and CEO

Ms. D. Lommer, VP Residential Services and Chief Financial Officer

Ms. S. Brown, VP Tertiary Services

Ms. K. Cairns, Manager, Community Engagement