Oct 15, 2015 - Terry Lake, Health Minister â. âOne of my top ... Kamloops urologists Dr. Derek Ottem, Dr. Steve Fadd
For Immediate Release
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October 15, 2015
New urology outreach service launched in 100 Mile House 100 MILE HOUSE – Thanks to the commitment of urologists from Royal Inland Hospital and the contributions of the South Cariboo Health Foundation and Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District, Interior Health is pleased to launch an innovative outreach program that will allow patients of the Cariboo region to access urology care closer to home. This week, urologists from Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops began travelling to 100 Mile District General Hospital to provide urology services for patients. Urology is a specialty that involves the treatment of conditions of the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs. It is estimated that approximately 325 Cariboo patients receive diagnostic cystoscopies at RIH each year. Some of these patients require multiple cystoscopies for conditions such as ongoing cancer surveillance. Thanks to a commitment from the RIH surgeons, many patients will now be able to receive a portion, or even all, of their urological care in 100 Mile House. This new outreach service will enable some patients to have a consultation and cystoscopy during one visit, ensuring the delivery of high-quality care for Cariboo residents without having to make multiple three- to four-hour trips to Kamloops. Patients will access this new service through a referral from their family physician. Three urologists from RIH will share a rotation of travel to 100 Mile House, two to three times per month, for nine months of the year (winter months will generally be excluded due to variable weather conditions). The primary focus of these trips will be to perform a diagnostic cystoscopy clinic. They will also perform minor surgical procedures such as vasectomies and circumcisions, and will administer hormone therapy for patients with prostate cancer. Patients whose consultation reveals a need for a cystoscopy may be able to have the procedure performed the same day in 100 Mile House. However, most patients requiring consultation and follow-up visits will still need to travel to Kamloops, and most minor and all major surgeries will still be performed at RIH. This new outreach service represents an investment of approximately $342,400. This includes a $300,000 contribution shared between the South Cariboo Health Foundation (60 per cent) and the Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District (40 per cent) for the equipment that will support this service locally. This also includes an ongoing annual commitment of $42,400 by Interior Health. Interior Health is committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and providing a wide range of quality health-care services to more than 742,000 people living across B.C.’s vast interior. For more information, visit www.interiorhealth.ca, follow us on Twitter @Interior_Health, or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InteriorHealth. Quotes: Terry Lake, Health Minister – “One of my top priorities as Health Minister is ensuring that residents in our rural communities have enhanced access to the services they need, right in their home communities. Interior Health’s new outreach urology service will allow residents in the Cariboo region to have their diagnostic consultation closer to home, and reduce their travel time to receive specialized services.” www.interiorhealth.ca
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Donna Barnett, MLA Cariboo-Chilcotin – “I’m so pleased to see this important investment in health-care services at 100 Mile Hospital. The new outreach urology service will reduce the need for Cariboo residents to travel for their specialist appointments, which is great news for this region.” Erwin Malzer, Interior Health Board Chair – “We at Interior Health appreciate the challenges of distance and travel experienced by our patients living in smaller communities and rural areas. I want to thank the urologists at Royal Inland Hospital who are supporting this innovative outreach service, as well as the South Cariboo Health Foundation and Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District for partnering with us on this important endeavour.” John Massier, Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District Chair – “The Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District is pleased to be a partner in this project, which will see an investment in rural health-care services. Travel to appointments can be stressful and financially challenging. To receive care closer to home will help alleviate those concerns.” Mary Shennum, South Cariboo Health Foundation Chair – “The goal of the South Cariboo Health Foundation is to help provide for the health of our community by ensuring that equipment and resources are available to meet the needs of patients today and in the future. We’re happy to be partners in this new outreach urology service, which will do just that for patients in our region.” Kamloops urologists Dr. Derek Ottem, Dr. Steve Faddegon and Dr. Lee Jonat – “We know that a significant number of Cariboo patients travel to Royal Inland Hospital for cystoscopy appointments. Reducing the travel for these patients by bringing the service to them will result in enhanced quality care, and that’s why we are supporting this outreach program in 100 Mile House.” - 30 -
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