Northern Health announces official opening for unattached clinic

The clinic will provide drop-in, same day, and booked appointments, which can be made by calling 250 262 5210, or in person at the clinic located at 101 – 10011 96^th Street.

Northern Health says the clinic’s health care team will provide broad patient support, including a mental health and addictions clinician, a registered nurse and care assistance, permanent and visiting physicians, and nurse practitioners.

The clinic is also supported by dietitians, pharmacist and home support.  

“It is important that residents of Fort St. John can count on the continuity of safe and quality care in the community,” Chair of the North Peace Division of Family Practice, Dr. Richard Moody said. “The new clinic will help ensure access is available to this care.”

The unattached clinic is based on a model created in Prince George, initially made as a temporary measure in 2008 during a shortage of physicians. Although it was so successful, the clinic moved into its own dedicated space in 2012 and expanded its in-take model.

 Meanwhile, Northern Health says they continue to tackle the physician shortage at home as physician recruitment efforts continue to bring new doctors into For tSt. John.     

Dr. Richard Moody says there is no “systemic problem” found with physicians working in Fort St. John, but rather a perfect storm of unfortunate events which led them to leave town, including unsatisfactory work for their partner and a desire to move back to their home town. This leads to increased work pressure and a less attractive work environment.

“It was unfortunate timing and because of the various immigration changes, it was making it more difficult for us to go to what has been our standard recruitment over the past ten years, namely South Africa,” Dr. Moody explains. “We’ve had considerable success with the Northern Medical Program, but again, somewhat unfortunately, with this particular group of residents that we’ve had here, all of them had plans this year to move on for different reasons.”  

Northern Health says recruitment efforts include attending trade shows for physicians and surgeons, advertising, and reaching out to people that previously showed interest in working in Northern B.C.