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Some patients finding new doctor pending clinic closure BY VALERIE ROSSI Times Staff
Selkirk Family Medicine is working diligently at finding new doctors for outgoing patients, pending its closure set for just a month away. When the news broke of the facility regretfully shutting down due to a prompt exit of Dr. Trudi Toews, there were upwards of 1,000 people who didn't have a medical plan.
“It’s really amazing how the clinics and the family doctors in the larger Trail area have really stepped up ....” JULIUS HALASCHEKWIENER
But the medical community has since pulled together to find a solution for more than half of these individuals and continues to pull efforts to complete the task. The Kootenay Boundary Division of Family Practice (Divisions), which represents all the doctors across the 14 communities in the Kootenay Boundary region, continues to support the clinic during this time of transition. “It's really amazing how the clinics and the family doctors in the larger Trail area have really stepped up and looked at the patient panels and said 'You know
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what, we have to make room,'” said clinical lead Julius Halaschek-Wiener Wednesday. He reports that approximately 500 patients from the surrounding areas – Rossland, Fruitvale, Salmo, and Castlegar – have been accepted at existing facilities in their home communities. And those from Trail in “absolute need”-- moms and babies, the frail and elderly, those with mental health challenges and the complex/ chronic patient population – were given priority placement. But the remaining “healthy” Trail people are still awaiting answers. “Doctors at the Selkirk clinic have gone through their patient list and looked at the complexity of patients and determined who in their patient panels would be a priority,” Halaschek-Wiener confirmed. “There are still a number of healthy patients in the second category to be placed.” A standardized referral process has been established to ensure a smooth transition is done with care and confidentiality. After clinics indicated the number of patients they were willing to accept, Selkirk then prepared and sent out referral lists. Then Selkirk contacted those who were referred, advising them of the transfer opportunity and instructing them to contact the receiving clinic to register as a new patient or to set up an appointment. See CLINICS, Page 6
SHERI REGNIER PHOTO
Rob Fershau described the proposed Centennial Park Naturalization project to a steady stream of people who dropped by the city's open house on Tuesday. Fershau is manager of landscape architecture, infrastructure and environment at MMM Group. The Kelowna-based firm has worked with Trail on downtown revitalization initiatives and now, the park's proposed re-design. Naturalization is an alternative landscape management technique, with an end goal of maintaining and increasing the health of parks, by reducing long term maintenance.
Centennial Park plans draw interest BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
Some were in favour, some against, but mostly, people wanted to hear more about the naturalization of Centennial Park. A steady stream of visitors dropped by the aquatic centre Tuesday afternoon to catch a glimpse of the conceptual design and ask questions about the proposed plan to rebuild the grassy hillside and lower bench in Glenmerry into a modern green design. Rob Fershau, a landscape architect with MMM Group, cautions the idea is still in its infancy, but the pilot project involves three basic principles that hit all marks of sustainable development.
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“If you can find a balance with three things in what you are creating – economic, environmental, and social – then chances are it is sustainable,” Fershau explained. “Right now this is a concept showing what's possible and explains the rationale behind it.” Water conservation was the impetus when talks first began between MMM Group and the city. Current water usage to irrigate the eight-acre lawn area is a staggering 1.32 million gallons of water each week, which equates to two olympic-sized swimming pools. “So that was the driver of this project to start,” said Fershau. “And from an economic standpoint, the cost for mostly summer mainte-
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nance is $52,000,” he pointed out. “So it's a no-brainer to say we can, with this pilot project, reduce water usage and mowing dramatically for a space that is not well used.” Possibilities were soon realized that reacclimatization could bring a neighbourhood connector of walking trails with an educational wetland and meadows for indigenous plants and wildlife. Collaboration with John Howes, Trail's engineering technician, the school district and the city's beautification committee further supported the goal of building a stronger community through fundamental concepts of park naturalization. See TOBOGGAN, Page 2
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