Single Article
In The News Archive
|
May 5, 2015 - Vancouver Sun: B.C. is falling further behind in addressing a critical shortage of family physicians and the government won't meet a promise to provide a family doctor to everyone who wants one by the end of this year. Health Minister Terry Lake said that despite progress, he is now unsure when the province will be able to get every British Columbian access to a family physician. The Liberal government had promised to do so in 2010, as well as during its 2013 re-election campaign....» |
|
May 5, 2015 - Times Colonist: The provincial government won’t likely deliver on a pledge to provide every British Columbian access to a family doctor by 2015, although “great progress” has been made, says B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake. Five years ago, the B.C. Liberal government promised that all B.C. citizens who want a family doctor would have access to one by this year. In 2013, the government negotiated funding of $132.4 million with the Doctors of B.C. (formerly the B.C. Medical Association) and named it the GP For Me program as part...» |
|
May 2, 2015 - CFJC TV: B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake admits its unlikely the province will fulfill its promise of finding a doctor for each British Columbian in 2015. However, Lake says the "GP For Me program" has made significant strides. He says the situation is improving, adding he is hopeful some of the residency students with make the Interior their permanent home. Lake says the challenge of recruiting and retaining doctors isn't just a B.C. issue. Read the full story...» |
|
April 29, 2015 - Penticton Western News: Expanded primary care services for those with mental health and substance issues are coming to a new location in Penticton. The new Martin Street Outreach Centre will provide care for people who are not able to access primary care through a traditional family practice and is the result of a partnership between the South Okanagan Similkameen Division of Family Practice’s, the A GP for Me initiative and Interior Health. ...» |
|
April 29, 2015 - Penticton News / Castanet.net: Penticton's outreach program is on the move. The program, which helps connect clients with physicians and other services, is relocating from the Penticton Health Centre to a new space at 437 Martin St. The newly named Martin Street Outreach Centre will provide expanded primary care services for those in the community with mental health and substance use issues who are unable to access primary care through a traditional family practice....» |
|
April 23, 2015: The World Health Organization reports a global shortage of doctors and nurses, and British Columbia is no exception. The challenge is complex and so are the solutions. It is not just about hiring more doctors but also about making the best use of the health services we already have and finding new ways to deliver care. Here in BC, the provincial government and Doctors of BC are working to make things better for patients and doctors through A GP for Me, a province-wide initiative that aims to strengthen the primary...» |
|
April 27, 2015 - The Kelowna Daily Courier: Prevent illness and help people at home rather than have them spend time in $1,100-a-day hospital beds. That's the gist behind the Healthy City partnership between the Interior Health Authority, City of Kelowna and UBC Okanagan. Read the full story» |
|
April 27, 2015 - Kelowna Now: Interior Health presented its first update and overview to Kelowna City Council as the two organizations continue to work together. Administrators Sharon Cook and Bryan Redford presented to council an overview of what is taking place in Kelowna and what is on the horizon for the coming months and years. Redford spoke about the reality of a doctor shortage in the Interior, which isn’t just a B.C. problem, but an issue seen Canada-wide....» |
|
April 20, 2015 - Star 98.3: A new initiative launched by the Abbotsford Division of Family Practice will hopefully make things easier for people looking to get time with a physician. Right now in Abbotsford there are over 5000 people looking for a family doctor, while at the same time over 50 physicians who have patient openings. Read the full story» |
|
April 16, 2015 - Coast Reporter: The Sunshine Coast’s A GP for Me proposal, meant to connect locals who want doctors with general practitioners accepting patients, was recently approved and has resulted in two new services designed to help. Read the full story» |
|
April 14, 2015 - 91.7 Coast FM: The doctors in the Sunshine Coast Division of Family Practice are working on some new initiatives to connect people with family physicians, and help them find their way through the health care system. |
|
April 14, 2015 - Coast Reporter: At this moment, there are an estimated 176,000 people in British Columbia who do not have a family doctor, but wish they did. The challenge of finding someone to look after your health on a regular basis is more than frustrating, it can also affect your health. For most people, contact with the health system is through a primary care physician where they receive care for most of their everyday health needs. Primary care is typically provided by family doctors in BC. That’s just fine, unless you do not have...» |
|
April 7, 2015 - Kimberley Daily Bulletin: A more popular trend in health care over the past few years has been the concept of wellness. The healthier the citizens in a community, the less demand there will be on primary health care. As part of the A GP For Me initiative, the Kimberley family physicians through the East Kootenay Division of Family Practice are working with key community stakeholders to lead a Healthy Kimberley Project, which focuses on promoting the health and wellness of residents in our community....» |
|
April 7, 2015 - The Province: Government promised a GP for everyone in B.C. by 2015, but 220,000 are still without one |
|
March 19, 2015 - East Kootenay News Online Weekly: As part of the A GP For Me initiative, the Kimberley family physicians through the East Kootenay Division of Family Practice are working with key community stakeholders to lead a Healthy Kimberley project, which focuses on promoting the health and wellness of residents in our community. Over the past year, community and physician consultations have been held, as well as a successful health and wellness networking event for Kimberly professionals and practitioners in early February....» |
|
March 23, 2015 - Richmond: One of the main reasons to live in Richmond is access to modern medicine and continuous health care. And while the former is a reality, unfortunately, the latter often isn't. Many people, even those who have lived here for decades, don't have a regular family doctor/general practitioner (GP). People of all ages are affected by this situation. By having continuous medical care and a history of medical records, health problems may be detected earlier and before they become serious. When people can speak to their...» |
|
March 10, 2015 - Richmond Review: Longtime local family doctor Dr. Jack Kliman remembers the fallout after a fellow Richmond physician retired last fall. “I had an elderly lady in my reception basically begging to be taken as a patient. That just is not acceptable in our world,” he said in an interview Tuesday. In the next four years, 24 family doctors are expected to retire in Richmond. In the next year alone five will leave their practices, and about half don’t have a succession plan, potentially leaving more desperate patients without a...» |
|
February 25, 2015: e-Know.ca: On February 4, 60 of Kimberley’s health and wellness professionals and practitioners gathered for a networking session at the Kimberley Conference and Athlete Training Centre hosted by the Kimberley A GP for Me Advisory Committee. Read the full story.» |
|
February 27, 2015 - The Valley Voice News: The Chilliwack Division of Family Practice is making it easier for expecting and new mothers in the region to access primary care by supporting the expansion of the Chilliwack Obstetric Group (COG) prenatal and postpartum outreach program at the Fraser Canyon Clinic. Read the full story.» |
|
January 30, 2015 - Nanaimo Daily News/Harbour City Star: Studies indicate that school-based health services lead to improved academic performance for many students, according to pediatrician Dr. Wilma Arruda. Arruda made a presentation to the Nanaimo-Ladysmith school board Wednesday on plans to establish a new medical centre at John Barsby Secondary School later this year. Read the full story» |
|
December 2, 2014 - Nanaimo Daily News/Harbour City Star: Plans are underway that will see a new medical centre established at John Barsby Secondary School sometime in the new year. Assistant superintendent Bob Esliger recently told the school board that the medical centre will initially be funded with an approximately $200,000 government grant that was secured by a local group of general physicians and other partners as part of the province's "A GP For Me" program. |
|
November 7, 2014 - Central Okanagan News: There are many seniors in the Okanagan without a family doctor, and a group of local physicians is attempting to change that. The Central Okanagan Division of Family Practice is a non-profit group that has come together to match up doctors and patients. They held their first assessment Thursday at the Parkinson Recreation Centre. Read the full story» |
|
November 6, 2014 - The Kelowna Daily Courier: Josie Watkins is making history, although it’s the kind of history she’d rather avoid. She and her husband have tried to find a family doctor since they moved to Peachland in June. On Thursday, she became one of the first seniors to take part in a new program that attempts to match doctor-less patients with a general practitioner. Read the full story» |
|
November 5, 2014 - Global News: A recent survey by the Central Okanagan Division of Family Practice, (a not-for-profit group of medical professionals), shows roughly 4,000 seniors living in the region are struggling to find a family doctor. Now residents over the age of 65 have a helping hand in that search, with new Mobile Medical Unit touring the Central Okanagan with one goal: to set up seniors with physicians. Read more...» |
|
|
|
September 30, 2014 - CFAX: Dr Bill Cavers speaks about the doctor shortage in BC, the state of primary care, and the A GP for Me initiative. Click here to listen to the interview.» |
|
September 29, 2013 - CBC Radio: All Points West: Dr Bill Cavers speaks about the doctor shortage in BC, the state of primary care, and the A GP for Me initiative. Click here to listen to the interview.» |
|
September 23, 2014 - Vancouver Sun: As B.C.’s remote towns and cities hold barbecues and tout their outdoorsy lifestyles in a bid to attract young doctors, the province’s health minister acknowledged it’s going to be a challenge to reach the ambitious goal of providing all British Columbians with their own general practitioner by 2015. Terry Lake says there is still a lot of work to do in the next 15 months to reach the “lofty” goal set three years ago by his predecessor Kevin Falcon and the province is looking to other alternatives...» |
|
September 11, 2014 - Coast Reporter: Family physicians on the Sunshine Coast are inviting residents to have their say in an anonymous online survey that will help shape the future of primary health care in their community. The survey is available at www.divisionsbc.ca/sunshine-coast from Sept. 9 until Oct. 11. Read more» |
|
September 11, 2014 - 91.7 Coast FM: Family doctors on the Sunshine Coast are hoping to hear from residents as they work to improve primary care in the area. They’ve launched a survey as part of a province wide effort called “A GP for Me”. The basic goal is to make sure anyone who wants to have a family doctor, does. Read more» |
|
September 10, 2014 - Lake Country Calendar: One of the concerns I hear about from constituents is the importance of having a family doctor. Attracting doctors to rural communities has been an issue for years in British Columbia and indeed across North America. In our province, an estimated 176,000 people are currently looking for a family doctor to call their own. Recently, I have been corresponding with a group called the Central Okanagan Division of Family Practice. One of the exciting developments that I’d like to share with you is the...» |
|
August 29, 2014 - Global News: Unless you’re one of the ones searching, the numbers will likely surprise you. According to a recent survey, it’s estimated 25 per cent or roughly 45,000 people between Peachland and Lake Country don’t have a family doctor. The survey was conducted last spring by the Central Okanagan Division of Family Practice, a not-for-profit group of local physicians whose mandate is to improve patient care....» |
|
September 5, 2014 - Peak Online: Powell River Division of Family Practice (PRDoFP) is launching a community survey to hear from Powell River area residents about their experiences when accessing primary health care. The survey is open Friday, September 5, and closes Friday, September 19. The local non-profit is one of 34 community-based groups of family physicians around BC working together to achieve common health care goals. Powell River division was formed in December 2010. Under the leadership of Dr. Bruce Hobson, chair of the board of...» |
|
August 27, 2014 - Peak Online: Powell River’s primary healthcare providers are taking the pulse of the community to determine how to enhance accessibility in a region where demand outstrips supply. Guy Chartier, executive director of Powell River Division of Family Practice, spoke to Powell River Regional District’s committee to outline the complexities of stretching limited resources. Chartier said the division’s membership includes all of Powell River’s family physicians, nurse practitioners and specialists....» |
|
August 22, 2014 - Richmond News: It’s easier to catch cold than a doctor. Longtime family practitioner Dr. Jack Kliman chuckles at the suggestion. But the Steveston physician is not laughing at the underlying problem the quip addresses — too many people do not have a family doctor, which limits the effectiveness of care and places an additional budgetary strain on B.C.’s health care system. Read the full story» |
|
July 31, 2014 - The Parksville Qualicum Beach News: Family physicians are creating after-hours walk-in clinics in Qualicum Beach in a pilot project for August they say will complement, not compete with, the operations of the Oceanside Health Centre. The doctors say they are responding to survey results gathered in the spring and will determine whether the clinics continue past August after studying the data gathered during this pilot project. "The community wanted some after-hours, walk-in access," said Elliot Freedman...» |
|
July 23, 2014 - Chilliwack Progress: I had the opportunity to attend a breakout session at the recent Child and Youth Committee’s Conversation on Chilliwack’s Children that was on supported health for the whole family. Participants heard a snapshot of several new and innovative programs in Chilliwack geared towards the health and well being of the individual, family and community as a whole. |
|
July 17, 2014 - Coast Reporter: There’s a doctor shortage on the Coast, and A GP for Me has been launched to try to fix the problem. A GP for Me is a province-wide initiative that seeks to enhance the efficiency of individual doctors’ practices, conduct research into the doctor shortage problem in each community and develop targeted community plans to address it. The initiative is funded jointly by the Government of B.C. and the Doctors of B.C. to the tune of $105 million over three years. ...» |
|
July 10, 2014 - Kamloops This Week: The agency representing family doctors is reporting it has recruited three new physicians, along with three locums to the city. An official with the Divisions of Family Practice, based in Vancouver, said the new doctors will arrive here in summer and fall, a result of the GP for Me campaign. Recruitment was done by the Thompson Region Division of Family Practice. |
|
July 11, 2014 - BC Local News: A new family doctor is moving to Cranbrook at the end of the month. Dr. Karen Fordham is relocating from Moncton, New Brunswick to open a practice in Cranbrook, filling one of at least five vacant GP positions in the community. The East Kootenay Division of Family Practice announced the recruitment on Wednesday, July 9. Dr. Fordham will be joining the F.W. Green Clinic, but it is yet to be determined when and if she will be accepting new patients, according to the Division. ...» |
|
July 2, 2014 - Coast FM: Doctors on the Sunshine Coast are now involved in a province-wide program called “A GP For Me“. The Sunshine Coast Division of Family Practice is the latest to start working with the ministry of health on the plan to improve access to primary care. “A GP For Me” has already launched in Nanaimo and Oceanside. Dr. Jane Bishop is the physician lead on the Sunshine Coast. Bishop says they’re talking to family doctors, medical office assistants and patients to get a sense of what’s happening now. She says...» |
|
June 29, 2014: The Daily Courier Everyone agrees that health care is a priority for British Columbians, and most would agree there are many challenges facing our health-care system. Usually, a lack of funding is deemed to be the culprit behind all our health-care woes. Perhaps the current system should be re-evaluated to provide better outcomes for patients, communities and...» |
|
June 20, 2014 - Cranbrook Daily Townsman: Recruiting new family doctors to Cranbrook is a task that requires the whole community to participate, health care professionals are urging. Three people from the East Kootenay Division of Family Practice spoke at a Cranbrook and District Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Wednesday, June 18 about efforts to fill vacant family doctor position in Cranbrook. Dr. Greg Andreas, a family physician at the F.W. Green Clinic, told the gathered business people that there are close to 4,000...» |
|
May 28, 2014 - Salmon Arm Observer: They may have doctors, but getting in to see them is another story. That is one of the chief findings of a recent Community Health Care Survey administered through the Shuswap North Okanagan Division of Family Practice. Designed to assess the current state of primary health care in Salmon Arm, Sorrento, Sicamous, Enderby, Armstrong, Lumby and Vernon, the survey is a first step in A GP for Me, an initiative of Doctors of BC (formerly BC Medical Association) and the Ministry of Health...» |
|
May 27, 2014 - Royal City Record: Dr Davidicus Wong I chose family medicine because I love stories – not fairy tales, fantasy and fiction, but the narratives of everyday people living their lives. Nothing is more engaging or authentic. Physicians are privileged to listen to the personal stories of our patients, and we are entrusted to become a part of these stories as we, understanding each person’s personal values, guide them in making the most appropriate choices for themselves. ...» |
|
May 18, 2014 - Nanaimo News Bulletin: The Nanaimo Division of Family Practice, made up of more than 100 local doctors, has joined up with Island Health to launch several pilot programs this month that will help improve the transition of patients from hospital to home. Those involved say the initiatives are meant to empower patients by giving them more information about their care, from a hospital handbook to an expanded discharge summary that allows for the entire hospital team to write instructions. It is a “small test” of ...» |
|
May 9, 2014 - Oliver Daily News/Keremeos Review: Family physicians in the communities of Oliver, Osoyoos and Okanagan Falls have come together to help children and their immediate families in these three communities gain access to a family physician. “There are more than 1500 children under the age of 19 in our three communities that at many points in their lives have or will need access to primary healthcare” explains Dr. Steve Evans, a local doctor in Oliver and a member of the South Okanagan Similkameen Division of Family Practice...» |
|
April 29, 2014 - InfoTel News: The Thompson Region Division of Family Practice wants to know how hard it is to find a doctor in our region and is asking people to fill out a short survey to help gather your thoughts. The survey is part of the G.P. for Me program, a provincial initiative to help match the thousands of British Columbians searching for a family doctor with those accepting new patients. The program was deemed successful in Prince George,...» |
|
April 25, 2014 - CFCJ TV: A questionnaire is circulating in Kamloops, and the aim is to determine the extent of the family doctor shortage and how to fix it. The anonymous survey is the latest public outreach from the GP for Me Program, funded in part by the Health Ministry and administered by the Thompson Region Division of Family Practice. Program lead Gerrianne Clare says they'll be out blitzing the public on Saturday. |
|
Global BC - April 15, 2014: It’s a startling stat, an estimated 30,000-40,000 Central Okanagan residents, roughly 20 per cent of the population, are without a family doctor. That according to Central Okanagan Division of Family Practice, a not-for-profit organization made up of local doctors whose mandate is to improve patient care. “There is never a day that goes by that I don’t have a number of people asking if I can take them on as a family patient, it’s the same request,” said Kelowna family physician, Dr. Gayle Klammer, “...» |
|
April 17, 2014 - Central Okanagan News: The Central Okanagan Division of Family Practice has begun preparations to combat what they say is a shortage of family medical practitioners in the area that will only get worse with time. Together, along with funding from the Ministry of Health and Doctors of BC, they’ve launched "A GP for Me". This joint initiative is currently in its assessment phase and is asking local residents to provide feedback about health care services through a quick, anonymous survey. The non-profit...» |
|
April 21, 2014 - Georgia Straight: Finding a family doctor may not be a top priority for everyone—but for those in need, the search can be daunting. In Vancouver, it is estimated that over 100,000 people don’t have a family doctor and about 24,000 are actively looking for one, according to the Vancouver Division of Family Practice. Until recently, Roanna Zee was one of those people on the hunt. “New people do have difficulty finding a doctor,” she said. When Zee moved to the city just over six years ago, she...» |
|
Agassiz Harrison Observer The conversation around improving access to local health care continued in Agassiz Tuesday night at Cheam Village, with a community forum between health care providers and the public. Over the last several months, a program called A GP For Me has been communicating with doctors, nurse practitioners, medical office assistants and patients to pinpoint what's working — and what's not — in local health care. The Chilliwack Division of Family Practice...» |
|
By: Norm Letnick, Lake Country Calendar My staff and I have been organizing a series of forums on health care for our community and one theme has emerged in each topic, be it oral health, eye health, or aging: The decisions and habits we make now will affect our health and our future, and when problems are caught early, they are often easier to treat. Having access to a primary health care professional is an important aspect of preventative health, and the best way for British Columbians to address concerns...» |
|
Cowichan News Leader Pictorial |
|
Chilliwack Progress - March 6, 2013 Chilliwack's family doctors are thrilled that a new program is coming to town to match more residents with general practitioners. The province wants every British Columbian to have a family doctor by 2015, and is rolling out a $132-million program come April 1 to make sure that happens. The Chilliwack Division of Family Practice (CDFP) confirms that it will receive a substantial amount of new funding to implement the GP for Me program. ...» |
|
CHQR - AM770 - Calgary Dr Bill Cavers, Doctors of BC, GPSC Co-chair is interviewed about the A GP for Me announcement. |
|
On the Island - CBC Radio One Radio host, Gregor Craigie, interviews Dr. Rimmer regarding the A GP for Me announcement. |
|
On the Island - CBC Radio One Radio host, Gregor Craigie, discusses the A GP for Me announcement. |
|
Radio West - CBC Radio One Radio host, Rebecca Zandbergen, interviews Margaret MacDiarmid, Minster of Health, about the A GP for Me announcement. |
|
On the Coast - CBC Radio One Radio host, Stephen Quinn, interviews Dr. Shelley Ross, President of the BCMA about the A GP for Me announcement. |
|
Cowichan Valley CBC Radio One |
|
Prince George Free Press - March 1, 2013 A pilot project that included Prince George provided the basis for the new A GP for Me program, which will be launched April 1 and promises all B. C. citizens who want a family doctor will be able to access one by 2015. The program is being provided through a partnership between the province and the B.C. Medical Association. About $132.4 million will fund the program, with a significant portion of the money coming from the existing physician master agreement. ...» |
|
Vancouver Sun and Global News - February 22, 2013 Patients will be able to talk by phone with family physicians as part of a new program announced today by the provincial Ministry of Health and the BC Medical Association. The province-wide program comes into effect April 1. Called A GP for Me, it is based on initiatives that matched patients with doctors in White Rock, Prince George and the Cowichan Valley. The trial has reportedly already matched 9,000 people in those communities with doctors. ...» |
|
Cowichan News Leader Pictorial - March 1, 2013 A Cowichan pilot program making big strides in attaching patients to family doctors was so successful it is being taken province-wide. As part of the GP for Me program, a plan announced last week to meet the lofty goal of finding a family doctor for everyone in B.C. by 2015, the B.C. government revealed the Cowichan Valley Division of Family Practice as one of its three prototypes. ...» |
|
Clearwater Times - March 2, 2013 VICTORIA - British Columbia recruited a record 268 physicians in 2012 from across Canada and internationally as part of efforts to improve access to quality healthcare for B.C. families. The previous record was in 2010, when 256 physicians were placed. "Recruiting additional physicians is one of the ways we are working to ensure patients have access to health-care services in their community, both family doctors and specialists," said Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid. "I would like to...» |
|
89.7 FUN FM - March 1, 2013 If you live in the Cowichan Valley and are still looking for a family doctor, the search may become easier. The provincial government has announced a new program called "A GP for Me", meant to connect everyone in B.C. with a family doctor by 2015. The ambitious project is based on findings from three pilots including one in the Cowichan Valley that started three years ago. |
|
Dr Tom Rimmer, chair of the Cowichan Valley Division, speaks to CBC Radio On the Island about the A GP for Me initiative. |
|
Vancouver Sun - February 23, 2013 Patients will be able to talk to their family doctor by phone as part of a new program designed to tackle the backlog of 176,000 British Columbians looking for a family physician. Coming into effect April 1 throughout the province, the program is based on pilot projects in White Rock-South Surrey, Prince George and the Cowichan Valley. In White Rock, the initiative led to 4,500 people getting matched with family doctors. There is now no wait for a family doctor in that part of Metro...» |
|
Top News - via HT Media Ltd. - United States - February 23, 2013 As a part of a new program, patients will now be able to talk to physicians over phone to seek any kind of consultation. The program will come into effect from April 1 this year. Based on pilot projects in White Rock-South Surrey, Prince George and the Cowichan Valley, |
|
Times Colonist - February 23, 2013 A plan to give every British Columbian access to a family doctor, announced Friday by Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid, will bring fundamental changes to the delivery of health services. "In our partnership with the B.C. Medical Association, we are rolling out a comprehensive suite of supports and incentives that are going to help improve primary care," she said in Vancouver. |
|
Global Vancouver - February 22, 2013 |
|
Global News Hour Final - Vancouver - February 27, 2013 |
|
HQCowichanValley.com - February 25, 2013 If you live in the Cowichan Valley and are still looking for a family doctor, the search may become easier. The provincial government has announced a new program called "A GP for Me", meant to connect everyone in B.C. with a family doctor by 2015. The ambitious project is based on findings from three pilots including one in the Cowichan Valley that started three years ago. |
|
CTV News - Vancouver - February 22, 2013 |
|
CKPG News |
|
Times Colonist - Victoria - February 28, 2013 In her "A GP for Me" plan, Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid is promising an extra $100 million for 176,000 new patients. That works out to $568 per year per new patient, which would pay for a simple GP office visit about every three weeks for an average patient, one per month for the frail, or one visit every six weeks for complex or pregnant patients. Especially for the frail and complex, it is unlikely that my general-practitioner colleagues can provide the medical care needed...» |
|
The Province - February 24, 2013 A plan to give every British Columbian access to a family doctor, announced "In our partnership with the B.C. Medical Association, we are rolling out a comprehensive suite of supports and incentives that are going to help improve primary care," she said in Vancouver. The program - called "A GP For Me" - will enable patients to consult with doctors over the telephone, a...» |
|
CHBC News - Global News - February 22, 2013 |
|
The Daily News - Kamloops - February 26, 2013 Three years may be a more realistic goal for providing a family doctor to every Kamloops patient who wants one, a physician with the Thompson Division of Family Practice said on Monday. Dr. Shirley Sze said multiple strategies -- including those announced by Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid and the BCMA last week -- are being developed to reach that goal. |
|
CHEK Victoria - February 22, 2013 |
|
CBC Vancouver - February 22, 2013 |
|
The Daily News - Nanaimo - February 26, 2013 Patients will soon be able to call their family doctor for a home consultation, rather than spend time in the doctor's office. Telephone consults are one of a number of changes to health care services available to B.C. patients announced under a partnership between the provincial government and the B.C. Medical Association. |
|
Alaska Highway News - Prince George Citizen - February 25, 2013 B.C. residents having difficulty finding a family doctor stand to benefit from a new program for primary care announced Friday in Vancouver. The $132.4 million GP and Me program will match patients with doctors and offer financial incentives for general practitioners provincewide to take on more patients, especially those with complex medical conditions, such as cancer and heart disease. The goal of the program, which starts April 1, is to ensure every B.C....» |
|
Peach Arch News - February 22, 2013 A province-wide initiative to ensure all B.C. residents receive access to family doctors is taking its cue from a successful Semiahmoo Peninsula pilot program. On April 1, the provincial government is set to launch A GP for ME - based on a program launched in South Surrey and White Rock in 2010 - which aims to match all B.C. residents with general practitioners by 2015. |
|
Okanagan Saturday - February 23, 2013 It's almost as good as a house call. The British Columbia government will soon be paying doctors to take telephone calls from their patients. The province will allow doctors to bill $15 per call, to a maximum of 500 each year starting April 1, as part of its grander scheme to match all patients with a family doctor who want one by 2015. |
|
The Daily News - Nanaimo Patients needing a doctor's consultation will soon have the option of talking to their physician over the telephone now the B.C. government has agreed to pay for the call. The option is part of the government's larger plan to ensure all British Columbians who want a family doctor will have access to one by 2015. |
|
The Daily News - Kamloops The province and the B.C. Medical Association are promising a family doctor for every B.C. resident who wants one, a goal they say can be achieved within two years. That might be good news for the 176,000 British Columbians who don't have a family physician, yet a Kamloops family doctor said it would be impossible to achieve in this city. |
|
CFJC News - February 22, 2013 |
|
OMNI News Cantonese Edition |
|
CKNW AM980 - February 22, 2013 BC's Health Minister says changes are being made that will help those who need a family doctor get one, but it's going to take time. Margaret MacDiarmid says starting April first, the program called "A G-P for Me" will allow patients to consult their doctor over the phone and encourages physicians to take on new patients. But MacDiarmid says it's not going to change immediately. |
|
CBC News - February 22, 2013 The provincial government and the B.C. Medical Association have announced a new $132-million pilot program they say will ensure everyone who wants a family doctor will be able to access one by 2015. The provincial health ministry Minister of Health Margaret MacDiarmid says 'A GP for Me' is based on the success of a pilot that matched physicians to more than 9,000 patients in the Cowichan Valley, Prince George and White Rock–South Surrey who were seeking general practitioners. ...» |
|
Castlegar News - February 23, 2013 Imagine the regular convenience of consulting with your doctor over the phone - it may seem like an idea whose time came a long time ago, but a recent joint press release from the B.C. government's Ministry of Health and the BC Medical Association indicates that funding for such a patient-friendly procedure will mean such a logical service option will be available in this province as of April 1. ...» |
|
250 News - February 22, 2013 Prince George, B.C. - The Province has announced new incentives and supports to work towards ensuring every family that wants a family physician, can have one by 2015. As of April 1st this year, physicians can be compensated for consultations over the phone. It’s a move that should free up time, and clear the area for someone else needing an office visit. |
|
The Vancouver Sun - February 23, 2013 |
