Princeton hospital closures has residents considering moving – CHBC

CHBC News
By: Kelowna, CHBC News : Wednesday, April 04
Read it on Global News: CHBC Okanagan | Princeton hospital closures has residents considering moving

News of closures at Princeton General Hospital has some residents considering packing up and moving out of the small Similkameen town.

As of May 1, the emergency room will be closed Monday to Thursday during overnight hours for the next year. Only one of the town’s three physicians will now be on-call. …more

Princeton ER to close Christmas Eve – South Okanagan News – Castanet.net

CASTANET.net
by Contributed – Story: 68897
Dec 23, 2011
Princeton ER to close Christmas Eve – South Okanagan News – Castanet.net.

A lack of available staff means people needing emergency care in the Princeton area should be aware that Princeton General Hospital’s Emergency Department will be closed from 7:00 p.m. December 24th to 7:00 a.m. December 25th. …more

Emergency room closed in Princeton – South Okanagan News – Castanet.net

CASTANET.net
by Contributed – Story: 71623
Feb 27, 2012
Emergency room closed in Princeton – South Okanagan News – Castanet.net.

Residents are advised that the Princeton General Hospital Emergency Department will be closed from noon to 9 p.m. Monday, February 27, due to unexpected physician unavailability. …more

Update: Princeton without emergency care – South Okanagan News – Castanet.net

CASTANET.net
by Jennifer Zielinski – Story: 64288
Sep 5, 2011
Update: Princeton without emergency care – South Okanagan News – Castanet.net.

Residents in Princeton will be without an emergency department today.

The Princeton General Hospital Emergency Department is closed from 8 a.m. Monday, September 5 to 8 a.m. Tuesday, September 6, due to physician availability. …more

Princeton hospital service disruption – South Okanagan News – Castanet.net

CASTANET.net
by Castanet Staff – Story: 62875
Jun 27, 2011
Princeton hospital service disruption – South Okanagan News – Castanet.net.

If you become ill in Princeton in July, the doctor may not be in. …more

Lack of doctors will close Princeton ER – Penticton News – Castanet.net

CASTANET.net
by Contributed – Story: 55594
Jul 8, 2010
Lack of doctors will close Princeton ER – Penticton News – Castanet.net.

A lack of doctors will result in the closure of the Emergency Department of a south Okanagan area hospital for several days this month. …more

Temp. closure of Princeton emergency – Penticton News – Castanet.net

CASTANET.net
by Contributed – Story: 53383
Mar 18, 2010
Temp. closure of Princeton emergency – Penticton News – Castanet.net.

Residents are advised that the Princeton General Hospital Emergency Department will be closed for the following 12-hour period due to physician unavailability: …more

IH helping find small town doctors – Kelowna News – Castanet.net

CASTANET.net
by Kim Calloway – Power 104 – Story: 37938
Mar 16, 2008
IH helping find small town doctors – Kelowna News – Castanet.net.

Interior Health’s CEO says the health authority is working with local officials to address a coming doctor-gap in the small town of Clearwater. … more

Rural Birth Protocol Review – Vernon News – Castanet.net

CASTANET.net
Jan 19, 2006
Rural Birth Protocol Review – Vernon News – Castanet.net
.

 Interior Health is launching a review of protocols for childbirth transfers in all of its rural hospitals. The review, which will be done by the BC Reproductive Care Program with support from BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, follows the roadside birth of a baby from Princeton late in December, 2005. An initial review of the December birth suggested that a standardized procedure might prevent this type of situation from recurring. The review will begin in late January. … more

Emergency department solution – Castanet.net – Letters to the Editor

CASTANET.net
by Contributed – Story: 71752
Mar 1, 2012
 Emergency department solution – Castanet.net – Letters to the Editor.

Monday’s emergency department closure in Princeton is just another reminder of the problems that exist with access to health care in BC

One possible solution includes utilizing Physician Assistants (PAs).  Other provinces including Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick are already successfully employing PAs and are realizing the benefits that they provide.

PAs, like myself have a high level of medical training and can deliver health care services similar to those provided by a physician.  PAs have a close and dependent relationship with physicians and function with negotiated autonomy.  Physician supervision can be done onsite or remotely.  This relationship would allow for a PA to work in places like the Princeton emergency department even when the physician is absent.

Perhaps now is the time to integrate PAs into our health care system.  Patients would be the big winners, with increased access to care, reduced wait times and quality medical care.

Nicole Nordine, Physician Assistant

. …more