Happy Days are Here Again! Kaslo welcomes two full-time physicians
By Nelson Daily Staff
The long search for permanent physicians to staff the Victorian Community Health Centre appears to be over as Interior Health announced in a media release Tuesday the signing of two full-time physicians to the community over the last two weeks.
Dr. Isabelle-Anne Fontaine began a regular schedule at Victorian Community Health Centre on June 16.
Dr. Ben Allen, expecting to work additional shifts in Kaslo over the summer, will officially join the Kaslo team on Sept. 15.
Both physicians have worked a number of shifts at the health centre during the past few months prior to officially signing permanent contracts with IH.
“On behalf of the Kaslo and Area D Health Care Select Committee and the residents of Kaslo and North Kootenay Lake, it is my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to Dr. Isabelle-Anne Fontaine and Dr. Ben Allen,” says Maggie Winters, Area D Health Care Select Committee member.
“We are confident they will be tremendous assets to our health centre and the talented and dedicated multidisciplinary team we currently have in place.”
“We look forward to collaborating with Drs. Fontaine and Allen, and Interior Health staff on developing and implementing strategies to ensure a stable, vibrant and responsive health care delivery system going forward,” Winters added.
For months Kaslo has been searching for permanent doctors to staff the Emergency Room at Victorian Hospital.
In April 2014, IH made the announcement the new hours at the Kaslo-based health center will be Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the exception of statutory holidays.
The new physicians will support primary health care and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekday emergency department services in the community.
“This is fantastic news for residents of Kaslo and area,” says Andrew Neuner, Interior Health Vice President of Community Integration.
“I’m proud of the work our Interior Health team and the Kaslo and Area D Health Care Select Committee, Mayor and Council and the community have done in successfully recruiting these new physicians. This was a challenging process at times, but in the end it was truly a team effort that made these recruitments possible.”
Both physicians have an interest in rural medicine and are coming to Kaslo for the professional and personal opportunities the community has to offer.
Dr. Fontaine came to B.C. from Quebec and has been a family physician since 2007.
Over the past six years, she practiced at the Family Medicine Unit in Levis, Que., teaching and supervising medical residents in family medicine. She has a good experience with geriatric patients in long term care units, has a particular interest in palliative care and was a pharmacist for five years prior to becoming a physician.
Dr. Allen is originally from West Texas and received his medical training in Virginia.
He is board certified in family practice in both the United States and Canada and is the 1988 recipient of the Lloyd Damsey Medal for Family Practice. He has practiced both primary care and emergency medicine at clinics, health units and military bases throughout North America, Asia and Africa.
Prior to moving to BC, he founded and practiced at an urgent care clinic in Lethbridge, Alberta. Most recently, he has supported primary and emergency care at the at various health centres around the province.
“We’re very fortunate to have found two highly-skilled physicians with diverse and impressive backgrounds who will provide excellent care to local residents,” says Dr. Curtis Bell, IH Community Medical Director.
“Both physicians are a great fit for the community and having two permanent physicians brings stability to our services for patients of the Kaslo area.”
In a prepared release, Interior Health thanked all the physicians who have been supporting the community as permanent physicians were found, especially Dr. Fen Smit and Dr. Annemarie de Koker, who have indicated they will continue to provide locum coverage.
Residents wanting to book a regular physician appointment can do so by calling 250-353-2291.
