Feb. 3, 2017
Project Update
North Kamloops – Primary and Community Care
Starting Monday, Feb. 6, people living with complex health challenges such as lung disease, heart disease,
diabetes, or mental health and/or substance use problems can begin receiving services at the newly
renovated Interior Health Primary and Community Care Services site, located on the second floor of the
North Shore Health Science Centre (NSHSC) at #201-376 Tranquille Road.
At this new specialized community care service location, a team of health-care professionals such as
nurses, respiratory therapists, mental health and substance use clinicians, social workers, occupational
therapists, diabetes educators, and dietitians will work together to support patients with one or more
complex chronic disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes, and those with
moderate to severe mental health or substance use illnesses.
Nurse practitioners will also be operating out of this space temporarily, and will be providing primary
care to patients from the primary care waitlist administered by HealthLinkBC until renovations to the
practice-ready space downstairs are completed.
The specialized care programs were a component of the four-point action plan announced by Health
Minister Terry Lake in October 2016 to address patient access to primary health care in Kamloops.
Physicians and nurse practitioners throughout Kamloops will be able to connect patients to the
specialized teams of clinicians at this site when a higher level of care is needed by patients.
Other referrals will come from HealthLinkBC and from patients themselves. Self-referred patients can
contact the site directly and will be assessed by a team member at a future appointment to determine
the extent of their needs.
New clients of the IH Primary and Community Care Services will work collaboratively with their healthcare team to develop an individualized and comprehensive care plan that will proactively address their
needs to maintain and improve their health outcomes. Employees have been trained to work as part of
an interdisciplinary team, providing team-based and culturally safe care for target populations, including
Aboriginal patients accessing health services on the North Shore.
The IH Primary and Community Care Services capital renovation project on the second floor of the NSHSC
is anticipated to cost approximately $1.9 million, funded by the Province through Interior Health.
Address:
Interior Health Primary and Community Care Services
North Shore Health Science Centre – Second Floor
201-376 Tranquille Road
Kamloops, B.C. V2B 3G6
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Hours of operation:
Monday to Friday – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday – 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Sunday – closed
Contact:
Office: 250-312-3280
Specialized care services offered include:
o Dietary Counselling
o Respiratory Therapy
o Mental Health and Substance Use Counselling
o Social Work
o Diabetes Education
Note: This site is not a walk-in clinic, although patients are welcome to speak to a team member about
how to access services.
Update on Future Primary Care Services
As part of the four-point action plan, a practice-ready primary care centre will open on the first floor of
the North Shore Health Science Centre in March. The nurse practitioners operating out of the second
floor Interior Health Primary and Community Care Services site will move to this space, along with other
nurse practitioners and doctors as recruited. The second Interior Health Primary and Community Care
Services site for older adults over the age of 65, including a Seniors Health and Wellness Centre, is slated
to open in the Northills Centre in April.
Kamloops Primary Care Waitlist Managed by HealthLinkBC:
Kamloops residents who are looking for a family doctor or nurse practitioner should continue to call
HealthLinkBC at 8-1-1 to be placed on a waitlist. In addition, HealthLinkBC will connect callers from
Kamloops who are frail elderly, have complex medical needs, or have moderate to severe mental-health
and substance-use concerns to the appropriate Interior Health primary and community care services site.
If a caller is experiencing symptoms, they can also speak to a HealthLinkBC nurse who will be able to
provide health information and advise them on appropriate next steps for addressing their health
concern. Patients on the waitlist will be connected to a family doctor or nurse practitioner as they
become available.
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www.interiorhealth.ca