BC Gov News

Dr. Doug Cochrane, board chair, Interior Health —

“The new urgent and primary care centre will make a big difference in the lives of Kelowna-area residents looking for local access to health-care services. By having a team of health-care professionals all at the same location providing same-day care, including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers and physiotherapists, people will have better support for their immediate and long-term health-care needs.”

Dr. Kathleen Ross, president, Doctors of BC —

“We look forward to the integration of the urgent and primarty care centre in hopes it will strengthen primary care in the Kelowna area and ensure people in the community have access to the health-care services they need, while also supporting a longitudinal relationship between patients and their family doctors.” 

Dr. Michael Koss, physician lead, Central Okanagan Divisions of Family Practice —

“The Central Okanagan Division of Family Practice is proud to have partnered with Interior Health to create the Kelowna Urgent and Primary Care Centre. This centre will increase access to care and provide a supportive, team-based care environment in which doctors can provide patient-centred care as part of a team. The Kelowna Urgent and Primary Care Centre will vitally enhance our existing network of primary care services and improve the health of our community.”

Sherri Kensall, acting board chair, Association of Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC —

“The Association of Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC is pleased that the knowledge, skills and expertise of the entire health-care team will improve access to health care for British Columbians through urgent and primary care centres. We believe that this approach will be pivotal in ensuring B.C. families can access health-care services and we are excited to see the launch of another urgent and primary care centre in B.C.”

The new urgent and primary care centre in Kelowna is a partnership between the Ministry of Health, Interior Health, the Central Okanagan Division of Family Practice and the Doctors of BC, which will host the urgent primary care centre on behalf of the community.

• The Kelowna Urgent Primary Care Centre will be located at 1141 Harvey Ave. in Kelowna.
• Urgent primary care is the care that people need within 12 to 24 hours and for when the situation is not a true emergency.
• When operational, the centre will be open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (including statutory holidays).
• People can self-refer for their urgent and primary care needs. Services will be accessed through both drop-in and scheduled appointments.
• Approximately 14% of visits to the Kelowna General Hospital emergency department could be dealt with in alternative settings, such as an urgent primary care centre.
• Approximately 33,340 residents in the central Okanagan report not having a consistent primary care provider.
• Using a team-based care model, urgent and primary care centres identify unattached patients and support them until they are connected to the most appropriate provider in the community. They also provide:
  • extended hours of care (evenings/weekends/holidays);
  • basic in-office urgent care services (e.g., sprains, minor cuts requiring stitches, minor burns, rapid access to mental health and substance-use crisis intervention services);
  • assessment and treatment for minor illnesses (e.g., earaches, abdominal pain, skin rashes or infections and urinary tract infections); and
  • quick access to diagnostic imaging and laboratory services (e.g., electrocardiograms, X-rays and blood tests).