Create a “unique” job position

It has been recognized on both government and local levels that there is a unique problem with the medical care in Princeton. We apparently have enough doctors to cover the local and area populace; however, there are not enough physicians to man the Hospital Emergency Room. For years, the government has been running in circles, hiring “recruitment” officers, etc. and no solutions have been forthcoming. Now the area is in the midst of unacceptable 4-night-a-week closures in the Emergency Room. The government would like to “centralize” the health care in British Columbia, but that has its obvious flaws in emergency situations.

To solve this unique problem, the government must create a “unique” job position. Our government has a long history of creating new job positions, so this should not be difficult. As I understand it, doctors work on a fee for service basis. If they don’t have enough patients, they won’t make enough money to warrant their practice. The current Princeton doctors all have sufficient numbers of patients. To solve our “unique” problem, the government must create a salaried Emergency Room Doctor position. Continue reading

We’re A Hole, So No Hospital?

Submitted 

April 24, 2012 Dawn Johnson’s ‘Current Comment
Similkameen News Leader
Copyright 2012 Bengel Publishing Inc.
Used with Permission

Princeton’s lack of emergency services has been in the news recently, with the result that I learned there is more to the story out there than broadcasted.

A friend of mine contacted me by telephone to relate her experience with an Interior Health Authority (IHA) employee. She was so upset by her conversation with this employee that she felt I should hear about it.

She spoke casually to the IHA employee about the plight of people in Princeton and their lack of physicians. She told me this was the reply: “Well, if people choose to live in a little hole like Princeton where doctors don’t want to go…They should move to the city.”

My friend, who lived here for years when we had a real hospital and a full complement of physicians, gave the IHA employee a blast about how it was the policy of IHA to reduce the Princeton hospital to the point where physicians cannot truly be physicians. She told him of the removal of surgical facilities and maternity facilities, and she admitted she became much more angry because of his attitude. She reminded him that people who lived in Princeton had their hospital gutted by IHA. Continue reading

Emergency pain in Princeton – South Okanagan News – Castanet.net

CASTANET.net
by Jennifer Zielinski – Story: 73431
Apr 4, 2012
Emergency pain in Princeton – South Okanagan News – Castanet.net.

Despite efforts to recruit doctors and locums the Princeton General Hospital has been unable to provide consistent emergency services.

The situation became worse for Princeton residents on April 1, when one of the local doctors was no longer able to provide full emergency coverage. This means there will be more frequent Emergency Department (ED) closures, and unless Interior Health (IH) makes adjustments the closures could occur during peak periods. …more

Questions raised after baby delivered in SUV – CBC

CBC NEWS
Last Updated: Thursday, December 29, 2005
Questions raised after baby delivered in SUV

A Princeton woman gave birth to her son in the back seat of the family’s SUV on the side of the road on Wednesday after being sent away from the Princeton hospital. …more

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