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1895 - 2015
Rock Island Tape Centre (RITC)
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DECEMBER 9, 2015 Vol. 120, $ 05 Issue 192
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Most patients finding alternate care ahead of clinic closure
for outgoing patients in their home communities. Some clinics brought Trail Times on more administrative support to Selkirk Family Medicine is set to manage the handover of large patient close its doors this Friday after two numbers and their health records, decades of serving the community. and some rearranged schedules and It was merely three months ago practice hours to make it work. that about 1,500 patients received a “The clinics and GPs in Castlegar, letter in the mail regretfully inform- Rossland, the Beaver Valley and ing of the closure. To many this note Salmo all came forward to say, ‘We’ll had to be read again to confirm this do what we can,’” he said. “They were news and then fear of the unknown able to do a lot and were willing to set in. look at their patient “The clinic is still Enter the Kootenay panels and see how Boundary Division many they could take open until Friday, of Family Practice and what rearrangeso if somebody (Divisions), which repments they could do resents all the doctors feels that they have at the clinic to make across the 14 commufallen through the that happen.” nities in the Kootenay In Trail, the IH cracks or that they Boundary region. Nurse Practitioner have not received Divisions supported the from Selkirk, Chelsea a call, there is still clinic during this time Van Vliet, is moving of transition and much to Dr. Blair Stanley’s time to contact can be said about the team at Waneta the clinic.” collaboration between Primary Care with a JULIUS HALASCHEK-WIENER the medical communifull practice of all her ty that ensued, accordcurrent patients. A ing to clinical lead Julius Halaschek- new doctor, Dr. Katie O’Connor, has Wiener. been successfully recruited to the area “It’s a week until closure, and I and has already welcomed many of think it’s fair to say that most if not all Selkirk’s patients. Now, working with patients who need ongoing care have the Kootenay Boundary Division of been referred to a new clinic or to a Family Practice, Dr. O’Connor is innew family doctor,” he explained. viting patients still looking for a docAlmost 1,200 patients needing tor to call the A GP for Me Hotline for ongoing care – complex or chronic a referral at 1-844-352-5664. disease patients, infants, the elderIn the interim, Kootenay Boundary ly and frail and those in residential Regional Hospital’s emergency decare – have successfully found a new partment is dedicated to handling medical home at this time. But there any stray cases. The ER is preparing are still about 400 people who were to institute a fast-track area, sepaunreachable or either not interested rate from emergency, that will handle or undecided on the referral. non-urgent cases like prescription re“The clinic is still open until newals. A triage nurse will determine Friday, so if somebody feels that they what kind of care stream a patient have fallen through the cracks or that will enter at the outset, be it putting they have not received a call, there is someone in the cue for emergency atstill time to contact the clinic,” said tention or moving them onto the fast Halaschek-Wiener. track avenue. Finding a home for the majority of “What is really uncertain is whethorphaned patients was accomplished er those 400 patients are still in the by existing clinics opening up space CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 VAL ROSSI
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Kootenay Insurance Services (KIS) is one of the first downtown Trail businesses that supported incrEDIBLE trail’s edible landscape and green route initiative. With growing season now passed, the planters remain a pretty green and showcase Christmas cheer on a drizzly December day. (Pictured, KIS’ Amy Volpatti)
SOWK MP weighs in on sustainability, climate change SHERI REGNIER Trail Times
Everyday there are small ways to affect big change in the world around us. What it takes is forward thinking and a little resolve to make walking, carpooling or busing to work a mainstay, says NDP MP Richard Cannings. “Walk more, bike more and drive less, “Cannings emphasized. “I know this can be a challenge in small cities and more rural areas, but we have to move away from using our cars for everything,” he added. “Often it just takes a bit of planning ahead and getting into
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that habit.” Friday is “A Day for Our Common Future,” in the city following Trail council’s proclamation which gives a nod to sustainable development – and also marks the last day of the UN Conference on Climate Change in Paris. “Sustainable development meets our needs today without compromising the ability of our grandchildren and their grandchildren to enjoy a lifestyle similar to ours,” said Cannings. “It means using our renewable natural resources wisely and making a transition away from non-renewable resources.”
The climate change behemoth takes the world stage once a year – but action can, and is, happening every day on a personal, municipal and provincial level. He points out a resourceful project in the East Kootenay and a growing trend in Trail as healthy approaches that balance needs of society and nature while furthering goals for sustainable development. “One of the boldest initiatives I’ve heard of lately is the SunMine solar energy project built in the City of Kimberley with support from Teck and CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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