Interior Health (IH) is set to enhance access to healthcare services in Kamloops with a $5.4-million investment in a new urgent and primary care centre (UPCC) in North Kamloops, alongside a significant expansion at the existing facility near Royal Inland Hospital.
Meeting Community Needs
The currently established UPCC, founded in 2018, has proven to be a viable solution for patients that are essentially homeless or without their own family doctor. Today, the Family Clinic instead is trying to point for growing demand with developing the services and the facilities.
Investment and Expansion
Through a $2.55 million contribution from Tranom Regional Hospital District, the IH would secure a leased space near existing medical facilities at Northills Mall, where the North Shore primary care center becomes a reality. As chief financial officer, Sylvia Weir, expects that the IH’s new facility (located) in the neighborhood, will see its opening in the fall this year and is a key step forward in terms of the regional healthcare ecosystem development plans.
Comprehensive Care Model
The next UPCC operates with the same scheme; it provides urgent and episodic care, for those needing non-urgent healthcare. Centered around a team of healthcare experts skillfully blended in with physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, and more, the center strives to create a comprehensive, systematic service to suit different frail patients.
Anticipated Impact
According to the data provided by IH, the new North Kamloops primary care will attract right around 85,000 patient visits during the first year of its operation. The expansion of services in the area would undoubtedly increase the number of visits compared to previous years. One of the centre‘s goals is to provide community members with either in-person or virtual consultations which serves the different needs of the community.
Expansion of Downtown UPCC
However, the downtown UPCC will also be set to go over into the adjoining space. Thus the growing needs of its customers met. Along with the increase in healthcare professionals. The clinic expects its patient visit to rise from 10 visits to 30 by the end of the year.
Planning for the Future
This downtown University Place Clinic Site needs to be adequately staffed before any discussions. On adding hours of operation. It can be entertained, said Karen Cooper. IH’s executive director of clinical operations for IH West. Although the shift may work on the Northwoods Mall it is essential. To ensure that the projects are eventual shifted to another Toms Mall.
Commitment to Community Health
IH’s investment and expansion project are expressing its point that IH is determined. To Enhancing healthcare access across Kamloops community. Must adjust to community changing needs at the same time. To achieve this objective. IH will widen its primary healthcare services and infrastructures to improve the welfare of the territorial inhabitants.
