The Cariboo Memorial Hospital is the recipient of $200,000 in funding to help rural emergency care access.
The announcement was made in Williams Lake by the Ministry of Health today.
A press release from the ministry says that, to date, families in 36 rural communities across B.C. will benefit from increased funding to strengthen public access to emergency services. A total of 52 communities are eligible.
The province announced $10 million in July 2011 to provide financial assistance of up to $200,000 a year for rural, fee-for-service physicians who commit to ensure reliable public access to emergency services is maintained at their local hospital.
The applications received to date have been reviewed by a joint Ministry of Health and B.C. Medical Association committee, and the money is now being distributed.
Examples of how the funding might be used include hiring additional physicians, incentives for working weekends, holidays or night shifts and health authority-approved equipment purchases. Physicians will work with their regional health authority to develop community-specific plans.
The assistance is part of a series of targeted investments, totalling $180 million, to enhance patient care as outlined in the 2009 Memorandum of Agreement between the province and the BCMA.
Approximately half of this assistance is directed toward improving patient access to services, while the remainder is for targeted labour market adjustments to improve recruitment and retention. This funding is within the existing fiscal plan.
The program was created by the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues, which includes the province and the BC Medical Association (BCMA), set up to enhance rural health care delivery across B.C. Local physicians were encouraged to work together as a team and apply for funding.
“Families in Williams Lake and 100 Mile House will benefit by having more reliable access to emergency services,” says Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett. “Cariboo Memorial Hospital and Health Centre and 100 Mile District General Hospital will also be able to provide even better care and enhanced patient safety thanks to the funding being provided by the province. “
Dr. Glenn Fedor, president of medical staff at Cariboo Memorial Hospital, says the additional funds will be used to provide more robust, 24/7 call coverage in the emergency department.
“Funds will be available as increased incentive for overnight coverage for all ER physicians including locums. We will also be adding a second on-call position to support the day shifts, providing additional assistance during periods of high demand,” Fedor says.
