Segregated, not Integrated Health Care

On December 2, 2010 I placed a phone call to Twin Beaches Medical Clinic to request information about the Integrated Health Network Wellness program that I had been recommended to pursue.

This program was open to all Gabriolans providing they were referred by a physician. I was asked if I was a patient of any of the doctors in the clinic. I replied that I was not. I was informed that the doctors at the clinic were not taking on any more patients at this time because they were operating at capacity with only one full time physician, Dr. Bosman. Dr. Smith was retiring and Dr. Thorne was going on maternity leave.

I asked how I would be referred to this program. I was advised to go to Medical Arts. Inquiring where that was, I was informed it was in the Port Place Mall, Nanaimo.

I inquired as to why I was not being advised to go to my own doctor right here on Gabriola - Dr. MacKenzie, and was informed that he was “different.”

I confirmed with the receptionist of the clinic that this Integrated Health Network was a program that is funded through MoH and VIHA through GHCS.

As all doctors are paid through MSP (Medical Services Plan) therefore through the government of British Columbia, I expressed my confusion as to why Dr. MacKenzie could not refer me. Again, I was told he was “different.”

I told the receptionist that I failed to understand why, in order to participate in a program that had been designed to cater for British Columbians and was offered here at the Twin Beaches Medical Clinic, I would have to pay to take the ferry over to Nanaimo to see a doctor who had no understanding of my case history, just so I could participate in a program that happens to take place less than a thousand feet from where I happen to live!

I placed a call to the Integrated Health Network in Nanaimo and was referred to the nurse who comes over to Gabriola to implement the program.

IHN is a pilot project for a self-management program for people with disabilities. At present they are partnered with 29 physicians in the area, of which the doctors at Twin Beaches Medical Clinic were considered as one. I was informed that GHCS participated in this program through a $ 16,000 grant that was given by VIHA to the society and therefore had a say in who could benefit from the program.

The IHN has received several complaints about the distributorship of this program and about GHCS in particular, and do not plan to renew the program with GHCS next year.

As the discussion unfolded, this individual agreed that this was a form of segregated health care. Not at all what GHCS would have us believe.