Health Care & the OCP

[Fitch Cady]

I have recently had conversations with Ann Kjerulf of the CitySpaces Consulting group advising the OCP and had an email reply from Dave Witty confirming that the subject of Heath Care will be added to the OCP agenda. Good.

Also had conversations on the subject at last Sunday’s Open Space gathering.

Much, if not the entire framing for the OCP is through the lens of land use, which may miss issues relevant to health care in an island setting.

Issues:
Certainly the helicopter landing emergency evacuation site falls under land use and thus the OCP. There was a momentary gap in this service over the summer. I am not up to date on progress for permanent night lighting for night landing for example. Where are we with this?

Who negotiates Bowen Island’s planning & health care needs with Vancouver Coastal Health?

I understand that currently there are 2 paramedics living on the island and that if both are accompanying an emergency evacuation on the water taxi no paramedical services above the level of the fire department are available if there is a 2nd or multiple event. Where does or should responsibility for planning around this capacity reside?

Currently we rely on free enterprise for doctor’s & dental services and establishing their physical offices as well as adjuncts like physiotherapy. What happens when the current physicians retire or move off the island? Where does or should responsibility for planning around this capacity reside?

Our population base is a long way from being sufficient for supporting a Salt Spring sized hospital. At what point in serving a growing and in particular an aging population does an enhanced clinic begin to make sense? Something larger than a doctor’s office, but smaller than a hospital. What is that? Should there be a staffed after hours nursing station, for example?

My early conversations with Ann on this subject indicated that Health Care “operations” or services are not within the “land use” orientation of the scope of the OCP. Yet all the land here is on an island which means we have unique operations and services needs.

Shouldn’t the scope of the OCP be opened up to include health care operations and services in the Official Community Plan?

[Dr. Hugh James Freeman]

Very important issues.

And, increasingly important as the population of Bowen grows and ages, especially since the data often noting the age ranges of the population of Bowen appears to be relatively highly skewed to the above-40 age range where health-related needs are greater.

Many "rural" communities in BC (and elsewhere in Canada) are faced with the same issues that you raise in your discussion, and some have become directly involved in developing packages that will attract physicians. The number of family physicians willing to work in an isolated setting in a rural community is limited. Attracting physicians to many communities is, in itself, competitive.

The population base needed for facilities of different sizes are important numbers. Remember though, it also depends upon the value that a specific population (or community) places on health care and how much they are prepared to support.

A topical example for own province relates to the Vancouver-Whistler 2010 Olympics and Paralympics. For these events, the province has developed 2 virtually stand-alone health care "polyclinics' for 10, ooo athletes, their coaches and trainers, not for the pubilc.

Perhaps, the municipality should make a bid to the Province after the Olympics to move the False Creek Polyclinic to Bowen, lock, stock and barrel?

[John Dumbrille]

Though I doubt this is on the budget radar, interesting idea.

[Dr. Hugh James Freeman]

Perhaps, the mayor or a councillor should make a phone call to VANOC.

Suspect the Whistler Polyclinic will become part of the Whistler Health Center. But what will happen to the Vancouver Polyclinic (after the games)?

Bowen might have a justifiable argument to receive at least part of the Vancouver set-up, being an isolated community. And the Liberals may need something after the games to look good and improve their image. Then again, maybe someone has already made the argument for their own community elsewhere.

We are paying increased taxes for surplus land in the Cove. And a free place to work for our family docs might be a good idea.

A phone call to Gordie from one of our elected officials might be time well spent. You just never know.

Leadership sometimes is about legacy.

[Fitch Cady]

Timing is everything. I'm thinking some ground work needs to be done. Defining our needs concretely.

A clinic will need political as well as physical foundations. The prep work for it is a substantial undertaking among the parties on this island. The pace at which things move. I think you are an expert familiar with digestion - so to speak?? At the front end people will need time to chew and swallow before sticking their necks out.

Your comment above "The population base needed for facilities of different sizes are important numbers. Remember though, it also depends upon the value that a specific population (or community) places on health care and how much they are prepared to support." - is a step in the right direction.

My initial goal was more modest than near term landing a clinic on the rock, especially in the time frame that snatching this one suggests. Not saying it's impossible.

My early goal is getting this whole subject on the OCP agenda with definition coming from interested parties. Assembling those parties in the process and articulating what we're up to.

So I am wondering who to gather on this subject. The practicing physicians on the island should be queried about their interest in participating.

I've have heard second hand that Dr. Schloegal has expressed interest in the notion of a clinic.

In the meantime some phone calls on status of future plans for the Olympic clinic should be made. Perhaps by a physician like yourself. They'd be more apt to take your call than mine. Perhaps some people should go look at if it's up for grabs.

[Dr. Hugh James Freeman]

Queries of this nature should come within the halls of power, in this case, our elected representatives. A call from the mayor or a councillor would be more than appropriate.

My information is that the polyclinic in Vancouver shuts down after the games. Recall after Expo that its multiple parts found their way into BC communities. My guess is that the building per se is not moveable, but its inner parts might be. That might save islanders time travelling to the mainland, other ferry riders time waiting for the forms to be addressed at the ticket booth, and taxpayers dough for the ride back from the test.

And, if the Liberals can get some political hay, they might see something positive here too.

[Fitch Cady]

Hugh,
Peter Frinton spoke to his sister, a physician, who has toured at least one of the Olympic clinic facilities. Apparently a state of the art OR etc. So maybe over the top for Bowen.

Meanwhile since this Health Care thread was begun Dr. Bueckert has closed his practice and in this week's Undercurrent front page story poses the question should the municipality get involved.

As a proponent of getting Health Care into the OCP agenda, I would say yes to that and I think the issues are numerous enough so that concerns over leaving it to private enterprise to solve should not delay launching in to this.

I have been speaking with other physicians who live, but do not practice here, who have expressed initial interest in taking a whack at this. This conversation should include all interested parties eventually - including emergency services of course, etc.

I think it's time to gather interested folks and get into it. Are you up for it?

Tried to send you an email via this site, but got blocked because we are not "friends". Being "friends" on the internet gives me the willies.

[Dr. Hugh James Freeman]

I just came across this post.

After my earlier comments in this thread, I personally made an enquiry and the Vancouver polyclinic for 2010 will become an Urban Fare after the games so it will be at least a place that we can purchase cabbages.

Ultimately, the public has to pay if it wants the services. In some respects, this is no different from the proposed arts center which the municipality seems to have made a priority for our tax dollars.

Clearly, having a plan for an eventual population of 7500 souls or more is not unreasonable. It would seem very appropriate for the OCP to propose a real on-island physician-based medical facility, complete with the current emergency services.

Even having a plan in place might make it more attractive for new physicians to consider coming here.

[Susanne Schloegl]

I absolutely agree, Hugh. Having an existing facility to locate in and work TOGETHER in would definitely improve Bowen's ability to attract new physicians to the island. Is having medical care available to all on island a necessity or a frill?