The provincial government says families in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area can benefit from improved access to health-care services with the Flowerstone Family Health Clinic now open at its permanent location at 744A Memorial Ave. in Qualicum Beach.
In a press release, Minister of Health Adrian Dix said clinic is making a difference in the lives of families by registering more residents without a primary care provider.
“The clinic is a strong example of how our primary care strategy is working to improve access to everyday health-care services throughout the province. It’s an important hub for the Oceanside Primary Care Network, which we announced last year, and it’s delivering co-ordinated and comprehensive team-based health care for people closer to home.”
The ministry’s release stated that in October 2020, the clinic opened temporarily for primary care services. To date, it has recruited five full-time equivalent (FTE) nurse practitioners, two FTE medical office assistants and an inter-professional health team, including a 0.5 FTE registered nurse and a 0.3 FTE pharmacist. Flowerstone is recruiting an additional FTE practitioner and two FTE physicians to join the multidisciplinary team.
READ MORE: Qualicum Beach welcomes new health care clinic
“People in our community deserve high quality and accessible primary care, and the Flowerstone Family Health Clinic, in its new and permanent location, will make a real difference,” said Adam Walker, MLA for Parksville-Qualicum, in an email to PQB News.
“Now that the clinic is in its permanent location, it will provide even more opportunities for people to get attached to a primary care provider. Team-based care helps address health issues in a comprehensive way, and for seniors or other people dealing with complex medical issues, the continuity of care and co-ordination of specialist services will be especially valuable.”
As of Jan. 21, 2022, there are 2,150 patients registered at the clinic. People who do not have a primary care provider and who live in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area, including Errington and Coombs to Bowser areas, can register online through the Health Connect Registry (HCR).
Patients can book virtual appointments with nurse practitioners Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In-person and same-day, team-based primary care appointments are available when necessary.
The provincial government will provide annual operating funding of approximately $1.9 million when fully staffed. $1.4 million has been provided for startup costs.
– NEWS Staff, submitted