What’s New

If you are a specialist who has adopted an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system – you should know about a new time-bound opportunity for additional support being offered through the Specialist Services Committee.

The EMR Funding and Post-Implementation Support offers additional funding of $3,000 per physician. In addition, there is training and technology support for you and your administrative staff, which can include Medical Office Assistant (MOA) Learning Sessions, physician and MOA peer mentor support, EMR User Group meetings, and specialized technical support. The funding and support is only available until March 2015, and you must apply to participate by the end of November.

In Port Hardy a patient sits in a comfortable chair in a sound-proof room with a psychiatric nurse or mental health worker; both are staring at a small screen. Soon the screen lights up and a psychiatrist in Victoria appears on the screen ready to engage.

General surgery is like an umbrella – it covers surgeons with the skills, knowledge and familiarity to treat a broad spectrum of conditions. On any given day, a general surgeon could save the life of a car accident victim, repair a ruptured appendix or operate on someone with cancer.

Dr. Michael Ertel has been practicing medicine for over 25 years. He’s a physician with a focused practice in Emergency medicine in Kelowna. Since his initial training, Ertel has seen younger ER doctors with enhanced skills in ultrasound use, airway management and simulation training. Being a life-long learner, he wanted to be properly trained in these skills. He also thought other doctors would be interested, too.

Magicians can trick our brains with a sleight of hand and we are delighted. But what happens when our brain tricks itself?  An individual is often left confused, scared, and anxious – and that’s when the expertise of a neurologist is needed. Neurology is endlessly fascinating because the brain defines the essence of who we are.

Dr. Ron Collins, who likes to hike, cycle or cross-country ski during his time off, is leading a group of colleagues in eight Interior Health hospitals that do colorectal surgery in new ways to foster better health for surgical patients.

Transforming the surgical experience for patients is the goal of a group led by a Kelowna doctor.
Anesthetist Dr. Ron Collins is leading a group of colleagues in eight Interior Health hospitals that do colorectal surgery in new ways to foster better health for surgical patients.

Lungs – they breathe life into us and are one of the single most essential elements to our survival.  They are responsible for a need so inherent we do it without even thinking about it.  So what happens when disease strikes these vital organs?

The Specialist Services Committee (SSC) is one of a number of collaborative committees that make BC's health care system unique. No other province have collaborative committees of doctor and government members working together to improve the health care system.