Kimberley residents now have improved access to health-care support thanks to the renovation and opening of a new primary care location in the Kimberley Health Centre.

 In a partnership known as the East Kootenay Primary Care Network (EKPCN), Interior Health, Ktunaxa Nation, and the East Kootenay Division of Family Practice opened a dedicated location for the delivery of team-based primary care services in Kimberley on Feb. 12. This clinical space brings a full range of health-care professionals, resources and supports together to meet the diverse health needs of each person.

“This is a significant milestone for the East Kootenay Primary Care Network with the addition of a new space in the health centre, which will allow us to complete the implementation of the Kimberley PCN team,” said Shannon Statham, Director of Clinical Operations.

“The team will include registered nurses, social workers, a mental wellness clinician, dietician, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, clinical pharmacist and Indigenous Care Navigator working as a team with the Kimberley medical clinic physicians and medical office assistants to serve patients.”

These primary care services are accessed by referral through the Kimberley Medical Clinic. Located on the main floor of the Kimberley Health Centre, 260-4 Ave, Kimberley, this primary care expansion includes one treatment room, two exam rooms, three consultation rooms and workstations supporting up to eight clinical staff in the facility. This space is co-located next to the Kimberley Health Centre and other health services in the building.

While the Kimberley primary care clinical area is operated by Interior Health, the facility is owned by the Kimberley Health Centre Society. Interior Health appreciates the support of the Kimberley Health Centre Society in the operation of the Kimberley Health Centre.

The capital budget of this project is approximately $2.1 million, which was funded jointly between the province through Interior Health and the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District. Interior Health thanks the Ministry of Health, the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District, the East Kootenay Division of Family Practice, the Ktunaxa Nation, and all other partners who have made this new primary care location possible.

How a Primary Care Network supports you: 

A Primary Care Network is a team of health-care professionals who collaborate to address primary care priorities of individual communities, such as:

• providing better access to a primary care team or provider;
• providing better access to chronic disease and chronic pain management;
• improving access to mental-health and substance-use services;
• helping to coordinate services for vulnerable people with complex health issues; and,
• providing comprehensive services for people living in poverty.

These networks connect local primary care providers and community service organizations to meet the health needs of specific populations, improving access to care, enhancing patient outcomes, and addressing the unique challenges and health care needs of each region.

The East Kootenay Primary Care Network supports coordinated health care that begins with the person. The EKPCN is designed to maximize health-care roles and resources in a way that optimizes the primary care team’s time, works to their strengths, and supports the patient’s health journey. This involves collaborating across different sectors and addressing social factors affecting health.

More information can be found at www.ekpcn.ca.

Lead image: Members of the East Kootenay Primary Care Network and partners celebrating the opening of the primary care location in the Kimberley Health Centre. Left to right: Ktunaxa Nation’s Social Sector Director Sheila Muxlow, Kimberley Site Manager Debbie Driscoll, Dr. Abiola Imasogie, Kimberley Mayor Don McCormick, Dr. Shaun Van Zyl, Dr. Ryan Lunge, Primary Care RN Nigel Kitto, Kimberley Health Centre Society Chair Ingrid Liepa, Director – Clinical Operations Shannon Statham.) Interior Health photos

Interior Health

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