Clearwater Times Monday, April 30, 2012
www.clearwatertimes.com A7
Health Connections bus available Kamloops to Vancouver Margaret Houben Many of us know that there is a Northern Health Connections bus on Thursdays from Valemount through Blue River, Clearwater and Barriere to Kamloops, but did you know there also is a bus from Kamloops to Vancouver? For the Kamloops to Vancouver run, which is on Tuesdays, the Northern Health Connections bus actually starts from Prince George at 8 a.m., stopping in Quesnel at 9:45 a.m., Williams Lake at 11:05 a.m., Lac La Hache at 12 noon, 100 Mile House at 12:30 p.m., Cache Creek at 1:30 p.m., Kamloops (at Royal Inland Hospital), at 3:35 p.m., Chilliwack (at the Husky), at 6:15 p.m., Abbotsford at 7:15 p.m., and finally arrives in Vancouver (at the Quality Inn) at 8:30 p.m. Then on Thursdays, it reverses, starting at the Quality Inn in Vancouver at 8 a.m., and arriving in Kamloops at the Royal Inland Hospital at 1 p.m., and back to Prince George by 8:30 p.m. Stops are made to pick up and drop off passengers along the way, as well as periodic rest stops and meal breaks. Passengers traveling on NH Connections will be charged a nominal fee. Fees are based on the number of zones traveled in each direction. Return fares range from $20 for short trips to $80 for the longest trips (the actual cost of travel is 80 - 90 per
cent subsidized by Northern Health). There are no taxes or fees on any NH Connections fares. For instance, the charge from Kamloops to Vancouver is $20 one-way, or $40 round trip. There are several things you need to be aware of, if your physician has referred you for medical services outside your home community. • When your appointment is being made, make sure the MOA or booking clerk knows you want to take NH Connections, and that your appointment needs to be on a particular weekday. Once the appointment has been made make sure to record all information about where and when to go. • Only after you have arranged your medical appointment should you book your seat on NH Connections. • Call the reservation line at 1-888-647-4997 to book your seat. Please have all relevant information ready. This includes: your name, address, phone number, emergency contact number, Care Card number and information on the appointment you are attending (name of health care professional, date and time of the appointment, contact phone number). If a companion is traveling with you, please book his or her seat at the same time. • Once you have reserved your seat you will be provided with information on where and when you will be picked up and the cost of your ticket.
• On the bus you will be asked to complete an Appointment Verification Form with most of the same basic information you provided when you spoke to the booking agent. You will need to take this form with you to your medical appointment. NH Connections is only for patients who need health care services outside of their home community. As a result Northern Health needs to confirm that patients attended their appointments and that people are using the service appropriately. If you need transportation for any other reason, commercial transportation services are available. • After attending your appointment, please have the form signed and stamped at the medical office by the doctor or the MOA (one copy of the signed form is retained at the medical office). When you board the bus for the return trip, provide the original, signed form to the driver, who will retain the original copy of the form. The driver collects copies from all patients on behalf of NH Connections. The third copy is for your records. Please note that these instructions can also be found on the reverse side of the form. Yellowhead Community Services also operates a social bus from Vavenby to Kamloops on Thursdays. No medical appointment is necessary to use this service, which costs $15 return from Vavenby and Clearwater, and $10 from Little Fort on.
Immunizations protect your world from the spread of disease Joanne Smrek Immunizations save lives and prevent illness by protecting individuals and communities from the spread of disease. As more people are immunized, the disease risk for everyone is reduced. National Immunization Awareness Week runs from April 21-28, 2012 and is a great time to make sure that you and your loved ones are up to date with all the recommended vaccines. It’s
free and easy to get all routine immunizations. Just call your local health centre to book an appointment. Some doctors and pharmacists may also provide some immunizations. Vaccines are effective and safe. Vaccines trick your body into thinking that a disease is attacking it. Your body responds by making antibodies specific to the vaccine you received. These antibodies stay in your body and protect you from the disease if you are exposed to it in
the future. It is much safer to get a vaccine than to get the disease. Most vaccine side effects, such as pain and swelling where the immunization was given, are mild and go away within a few days. The risks associated with vaccines are far fewer and less severe than those associated with the actual disease. Not everyone can be immunized and not all who are immunized will respond adequately to the vaccine. This may be due
to a variety of reasons including age and medical conditions. This is why it is very important for everyone who can be vaccinated to do so. This helps to build a circle of protection around those who need it. For more information talk to a public health nurse or your family doctor. Immunization information and a list of public health offices are available on our website http://www. interiorhealth.ca. Public Health
Arts council launch planter projects Margot Venema Members of the North Thompson Arts Council are launching the Planter Project. Individuals, groups, or organizations are invited to sponsor a planter for $100. The sponsor’s name will be written on an engraved plaque, which will be affixed to the planter. The planters will be placed around town so everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the art. On Saturday, May 19, local artists and community members will be painting these locally built planters at the Clearwater Resource Centre. On Saturday, May 26, gardeners of all ages - no prior experience required - will be planting the planters with edible plants. Everyone is welcome.
73 Taren Drive, Clearwater Phone 250-674-2929 Toll Free: 1-877-974-2929
- Joanne Smrek is a clinical resource coordinator - vaccine promotion/education with Interior Health
Turf Builder Coated Grass Seed Super absorbent coating, absorbs 2x more water than non-coated seeds. 99.99% weed free. Sun-Share. HeatDrought. Bluegrass Sun. Dense Shade or High Traffic formulas. 1.4 kg 5065-566 to 571
Water Soluble Plant Food Shake‘n Feed Plant Food for in ground gardens, feeds for up to 3 months. Ultra Bloom, Multi-purpose, or Tomato Fruits & Vegetables. 2.04kg. 5026-053 5027-522/560
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All Purpose or Ultra Bloom formula. 1.71kg. 5026-134/599
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Kristin Jones specializing in weddings, sympathy, birthdays, anniversaries and other important occasions
There is also a wealth of immunization information on the ImmunizeBC website www.immunizebc.ca.
HOME HARDWARE IS A CANADIAN OWNED COMPANY
$15.97 each
REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPIST ~ flowers ~ plants ~ gifts ~ balloon bouquets ~
Offices are also listed under Health Authorities in the Blue Pages of your telephone directory.
Forest House Wellness Centre 717 Clearwater Village Rd. at the base of the hospital hill
250-674-2538 Monday 12pm-7pm Tuesday 9am-5pm Thursday 9am-5pm
Knife & Fork Carving Set Chrome vanadium German steel knife blade retains an ultra sharp edge, granton depressions for easy cutting. Contoured non-slip santoprene handles. includes protective sleeve and beautiful storage case with magnetic closure. 4136-360
$39.97 each
Pay & Talk Telus Cards • $10 • $25 Available Here
WELLS GRAY HOME HARDWARE 250-674-3717
(across from the Post Office)
86 Station Rd., Clearwater • Open 8:30 - 5:30, Mon. - Sat.