Cortes Community Health Association

Cervical screening options https://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show16854a/Cervical_Cancer_Screening

https://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show16720a/Tick_Season_is_Here

The medication order from the Cove pharmacy will not be arriving at the usual time today since the ferry is not running. This order may not come in until Friday, depending upon the ferry situation.

Here is a new option available in CR to see an MD same day: https://www.islandhealth.ca/our-locations/hospitals-health-centre-locations/campbell-river-primary-care-access-clinic

If you need a same-day appointment to see a doctor and we cannot accommodate this request, you can call this primary care access clinic, phone lines open at 8:30am, and book a same-day appointment. Likely you will need to call early as the spaces may fill quickly. If you go over on the second ferry, appointments from 11:30am and onwards should be doable.

This is in addition to the ER, which is to be used if it is an emergency, and will hopefully alleviate some pressure on the ER. It is adjacent to the hospital.

https://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show16647a/No_Physican_at_the_Clinic_Next_Week

PLEASE SHARE: A Drug Poisoning/Overdose Advisory has been issued for the Mount Waddington area.

· Check out Island Health’s Harm Reduction Services page at https://ow.ly/FgyS50PLkLF to find information on overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites, drug-checking services and more.

· For harm reduction services and information, including naloxone programs, visit Toward the Heart at https://ow.ly/Nlzv50PLkLO

· If you’re using alone, try the Lifeguard App at https://ow.ly/183a50PLkLN or the Brave App at https://ow.ly/rbxN50PLkLG, or call the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-6677

· For Indigenous-specific information, visit the First Nations Health Authority’s Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction pages at https://ow.ly/ktA450PLkNW

Island Health will be hosting a COVID-19 spring vaccine clinic on Cortes on June 12th.

This vaccine is recommended for adults 65 and older, Indigenous adults 55 and older, adults in long-term care homes and assisted living facilities, including people waiting for placement, those six months and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, and anyone who did not receive an XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccine between October 2023 and March 2024.

For more information please visit COVID-19 immunization - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca).

Project Manager – Community Health Centre (CHC) – Discovery Islands

In partnership with the Campbell River & District Primary Care Network (CR&D PCN) the Cortes Community Health Association (CCHA) has been approved to begin development for a CHC for the Discovery Islands Region. The CR&D PCN regional service plan supported by the Ministry of Health and the Family Practice Services Committee has a primary goal to create an integrated system of care.

As partners the CCHA and CR&D PCN are seeking applications from an experienced Project Manager to support this innovative CHC.

What does our Project Manager do?

In collaboration with the CCHA, CR&D PCN and numerous community partners the Project Manager will be dedicated to the development of a robust and successful project plan related directly to onboarding our region's CHC overall design. Via community engagement, planning, development, and initial quality improvement outline based on previously confirmed deliverables and desired outcomes, success in the role will be found within efficient project management process over a 1-year contract term.

Please see the full description in the Job Posting on the CCHA website at https://corteshealth.com

CCHA | Cortes Community Health Association The Cortes Community Health Association (CCHA) is a charitable organization that is governed by a Board of volunteer Directors elected by the membership. The CCHA owns and operates the Cortes Health Centre as well as providing a variety of community programs. Learn More Youth Programs The CCHA funds...

Late February 2024 update:
https://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show16370a/CCHA_Update

https://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show16283a/New_Cervical_Cancer_Screening

Community Update - Primary Care Update
https://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show16264a/CCHA_Community_update

Additional mental health and substance use resources are at
https://www.wellnesstogether.ca/en-ca/

The link for more information about the available mental health resources is: https://www.cortesisland.com/cgi-bin/tideline/show_article_attachment.cgi?TY=ar&ID=16048&F=mental_health_info_for_tideline.pdf&X=1701029640000/mental_health_info_for_tideline.pdf

General News · 26th October 2023
Update from the CCHANew or Updated
Bernice

Dear Community,
As you all know, the Cortes Community Health Association and our Health Centre, will be facing challenges over the next year. We are writing to you all with a progress note and will keep you all informed as we work through each of these new opportunities.

On October 13, 2023, three Board members and the Health Centre administrator met with Island Health (Vancouver Island Health Authority) management and medical directors.

Here is a summary of what we learned:
Island Health (IH) is actively recruiting for a clinician for our clinic, either a Physician, Physician group, or a Nurse Practitioner (NP). Our position is that a physician-led full-time practice is the best option for this community, but we will need to consider other options, including a Nurse Practitioner, in the event that there are no physicians willing to take over the practice full-time. We must find a way to make Cortes an attractive community for primary practitioners; this may need to include looking for community funding to fill gaps.

We heard that IH is facing challenges with recruitment in similar communities and, sadly, they are not hopeful we will get a group or single physician willing to take over the practice. We are discussing ideas for increased incentives and new practice models, however, recent changes in the province have made rural practice and locums less attractive than practice in larger areas.

We informed them of several collateral issues that impact our clinic which need to be addressed and taken into account, including:

● Increasing clinic usage and patient complexity due to our aging population, socioeconomic factors, the retirement of a local psychiatrist and the Nurse Practitioner on Quadra

● Lack of physician support with the full time RN position only filled part time and no Home Care nurse for over a year

● Difficulty finding locum coverage has meant occasional weeks without any physician

● Physicians are required by their professional College to be available to provide consultation for locums, this creates overworked physicians and could lead to burnout

Please understand that Physician and Health Centre funding is very complex and there are several different models. Although IH has an expectation that the government will be raising the 'salaries' of doctors on these types of contracts to be competitive with urban areas in spring 2024 we don’t know if this will make us more attractive.

Overall, we found it a positive, though sobering, meeting and have agreed to meet regularly with Island Health to work toward solutions. We have a positive working relationship with both our physician group and with Island Health. We strongly encourage community members to write our MLA and the Health Minister directly, with your concerns about factors beyond the local ones that impact our situation. One of our Board members is drafting some example letters which will be available to the community, more on this in the future update.

The current physicians have been trying to recruit their replacements from among visiting locums and we will continue reaching out to current and past locums as to whether there is any interest in being part of a longer-term practice here.

If community members have comments or suggestions, please put them in writing either in a letter which can be dropped off at the clinic, addressed to the Board, or emailed to [email protected]

Some other resources:
https://bchealthcarematters.com
https://bcfamilydocs.ca/change-starts-here/our-views/
https://bcruralhealth.org/

from https://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show15971a/Update_from_the_CCHA

Update from the CCHA Dear Community,As you all know, the Cortes Community Health Association and our Health Centre, will be facing challenges over the next year. We are writing to you all with a progress note and will keep you all informed as we work through each of these new opportunities. (more...)

Upcoming flu and covid-19 vaccination clinics:
Oct. 24th Cove pharmacy at Cortes clinic
Nov. 23rd and 29th Public Health at the Gorge Hall

Please see the details below and share this info with others who may not go online.

https://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show15932a/Harm_reduction_cupboards

General News · 29th September 2023

A Letter to the Community from the CCHA

To the Cortes Community from the Cortes Community Health Association

After almost 2 years of negotiations with Island Health and after working without a contract for over a year and a half, the Cortes physician group has signed a contract for the continuation of the collaborative practice at the Cortes Health Centre.

Unfortunately, the 3 physicians remaining on this contract have also given the CCHA notice that they will all be resigning as the host physicians of this practice as of March 31, 2024. They will be notifying patients, as required by their College, in the coming weeks to say that they will be leaving this practice and that, at this time, there is no one who has agreed to take over their role.

There is no immediate withdrawal of services.

The collaborative practice model developed on Cortes was innovative and was a model for rural health elsewhere in BC. However, the Province's struggle to provide healthcare in BC has created uncertainty in the path to provide rural health care. We recognize that this is a very uncomfortable place for us to be in.

The resignations were prompted by the following factors:

1. The doctors have been working without a contract for the last 18 months and have been in negotiations for the new contract for almost 2 years. We are told that these prolonged and frustrating negotiations have taken a personal toll on our physicians, which they have not let interfere with the excellent care they provide here.

2. Individual physicians are choosing to move along in their lives and establish careers in other places. This has happened several times in the past as physicians have moved to other provinces or retired, but we have not had all the physicians leave at once. Our current physicians have indicated they may return in locum capacity.

3. The Province has changed its funding model, adding fee incentives for longitudinal family medicine that are more lucrative in urban areas. This makes it less attractive for physicians to take on rural practices or to serve as locums in rural areas. This is not because of anything wrong with our Health Centre or our community. The reality is that, as the province struggles with a widespread physician shortage, the financial incentives for rural practice and rural locums are less competitive than before. Our 3 remaining physicians have been working to recruit new members for the practice over the past couple of years, without success, and have been having more difficulty finding locums to fill the open weeks.

4. Medical bureaucracy has increased the workload for doctors and nurses, without giving them adequate time and compensation. We are aware that the demographics and health issues of our population have made delivering medical services on Cortes increasingly complex and time consuming.

This problem on Cortes is a result of the circumstances that all primary healthcare providers are facing. Many rural communities are experiencing the same issues. This is partly a political problem that should put the government under extreme pressure. The Province needs to address the situation in a way that ensures equitable access to health care no matter where you live in the province.

The mandate of the CCHA is to facilitate health care on Cortes. The CCHA’s position is that maintaining our Health Centre as a fully staffed primary care center with a stable complement of primary care providers is essential for this community and we will be requesting an urgent meeting with Island Health as soon as possible to find out what plans they have for recruiting physicians to commit to this practice and what we can do to help in this process.

The CCHA will be working diligently with Island Health and our physicians, to provide a continued, sustainable model for healthcare on Cortes Island. We can assure the community that the CCHA will put every effort into a solution to providing continuous physician service on Cortes. We have managed similar situations in the past with good outcomes.

We will be posting regular updates as we work through this. We will let you know how you can help and keep you informed on the progress. We don't have any information other than what we have provided.

We thank you for your support and patience and ask that you respect the need to continue the flow and efficiency of the clinic by not asking to discuss this at your clinic visits.

Thank you,
The CCHA Board

The Cortes Health Centre will be closed on Monday September 4th for Labour Day. Happy Holiday!

The Cortes Community Health Association is embarking on a review of our Strategic Plan in order to make sure that we are doing our best to serve our Community now and moving forward into the future.

The first step in this process is Community Engagement and we want to hear from you!

Please look for our table at Cortes Day and take a moment to fill out our survey. All data collected will remain anonymous and give us valuable information as we plan for the future of our organization.

If you can't make it to Cortes Day but would like to participate please email me at [email protected] for a copy or watch for pop-ups at the Friday Market!

All participants can enter their name into a draw for a prize to be drawn later in the summer!

Thank you so much for your help!

Have a great summer and Happy Cortes Day!

From Island Health:

Island Health will be returning to Cortes Island this month on Wednesday, May 24 to hold a spring COVID-19 booster dose clinic at Gorge Hall.

COVID spring booster doses are recommended for people 80 years or older, 70 years or older and Indigenous, and people 18 years and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. Residents may also benefit from a booster if they have never had COVID-19 and are 60 years or older, or 50 years or older and Indigenous.

For more information about COVID-19 booster doses, please visit https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/booster.

This Sunday, May 7th, 1pm, the CCHA is holding our AGM at Manson's Hall. Yasmina Cartland will begin our afternoon with a presentation on the Compassionate Care Project followed by regular AGM Business.

Please find our AGM Agenda, 2022 Financial Statements, and 2022 AGM Minutes for approval as attachments on the tideline at https://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show15472a/Cortes_Community_Health_Association_AGM_May_7th_1pm.

Memberships will be available for renewal for $5/person.

Hope to see you there!

Cortes Community Health Association AGM May 7th 1pm Hello Everyone!Please come out to the CCHA AGM at 1pm at the Manson's Hall. We will get started with a short presentation by Yasmina Cartland introducing the Compassionate Community Project followed by regular AGM business. (more...)

The covid/flu vaccination clinic has been cancelled for Wednesday, Dec. 7th due to predicted winds that may prevent Public Health nurses from travelling by water taxi. It has been postponed to Friday, Dec. 16th. Please use the link provided in your cancellation notification or call the main booking phone number at 1-833-838-2323 to reschedule your appointment.
https://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show15119a/COVID_and_flu_vaccine_clinic_CANCELLED

So well deserved! Thank you Clay for all that you do for us.
https://www.bcpharmacy.ca/news/pharmacy-leadership-award-2022-clay-palmer?fbclid=IwAR1aYRXqfrNwqfnd1an2FB2lpwZVZhgUAk7fx8rLUtO-vAw3GwQgV8k7irs

Pharmacy Leadership Award 2022: Clay Palmer | BC Pharmacy Association December 1, 2022 The Tablet Clay Palmer Pharmacy Leadership Award Pharmacy Manager, Cove Pharmacy Quadra Island, B.C. Born and raised in Campbell River, Pharmacy Leadership Award recipient Clay Palmer found home was truly where the heart is, both as a place to start a family and also a place to wor...

From Public Health...
To accommodate additional appointments on Cortes Island For COVID-19 and flu vaccinations, the immunization clinic will be moved from the Health Centre to Gorge Hall on Dec 7.

The Public Health vaccination clinics are now full. For those of you who have not yet been able to book your covid/flu vaccinations... call the Cove pharmacy.

Please note that the Nov. 23rd covid/flu vaccination clinic by Public Health is now full. Public Health nurses will be returning Dec. 7th to do vaccinations at the Cortes Health Centre. These are booked thru the main booking line # at 1-833-838-2323 or online by following the link in your invitation.

Renew your prescription B.C. is expanding the services that pharmacists can offer to help people get the care and prescriptions they need.

Update:
The Nov. 2nd clinic is now full. They have opened up a new opportunity now for Nov. 23rd at the Cortes Health Centre. It still needs to be booked thru the main booking line. Public Health nurses will be coming over on that day to do more vaccinations - both flu and Covid.

From Island Health:
Island Health will be holding a combined COVID-19 and flu vaccine clinic for Cortes residents on Nov 2.

This special clinic on Cortes will be for everyone age 6 months and older who is eligible for COVID-19 first, second and booster doses, as well as the flu vaccine. These vaccines are free for all BC residents.

How to book your COVID-19 vaccine:
For COVID-19 vaccinations, BC’s immunization registration system will automatically send an invitation to book an appointment when you are eligible for your next dose if you are already registered in the ‘Get Vaccinated’ system. The invitation will be sent via text, email or phone call when it’s your turn to book. The recommendation is that you receive a COVID booster at least six months after your last dose. If you wish to receive a fall booster sooner, while Island Health is visiting Cortes Island, you may be eligible as long as it has been 3 months since your last dose. Please call the provincial booking line to determine your eligibility: 1-833-838-2323. If you’ve had a COVID infection, it is recommended that you wait 3-6 months before receiving a booster.

How to book your free flu vaccine:
Getting a flu vaccine helps you prevent influenza and stay healthy while COVID-19 circulates in our communities. This year, you can book the COVID-19 booster and flu vaccines and have them administered during the same appointment.

If you didn’t receive an invitation:
If you don’t receive an invitation and you feel you are eligible for vaccinations, please call the Provincial Call Centre at 1-833-838-2323 to speak with an agent. If you are not yet registered in the ‘Get Vaccinated’ system you can do so online at www.GetVaccinated.gov.bc.ca or by calling 1-833-838-2323.

If residents have any difficulties booking their appointments after first calling the Provincial Call Centre, they can speak with an Island Health Call Centre agent by calling 1-833-633-1919.

Please share this notice with others on Cortes to help spread the word about this special clinic.

Important to know if planning to do a walk-in on Saturday, Oct. 8th.

In order to ensure reliable, consistent acute and outpatient laboratory service, we have made the decision to temporarily not allow walk-in patients at the Campbell River outpatient lab located in North Island Hospital Campbell River on Saturday, October 8.

We acknowledge the inconvenience of this temporary change and appreciate people’s patience as we work to support acute and outpatient services. During this temporary reduction, patients requiring walk-in outpatient lab services can attend the LifeLabs location in Courtenay.

Read more: http://ow.ly/gokT50L4Wk1