Exciting news for our community is that we have a new walk-in medical clinic now open at Nechako Valley Secondary School (NVSS). A rotating schedule of doctors are available for students every Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
The clinic consulting room and waiting area is situated in a private, sound-proof space created in the upstairs suite of counselling offices.
Students could drop by the NVSS clinic on Wednesdays for any reason. For example; do you need a prescription renewed? Did you twist your ankle and you’re not sure if you need an x-ray? Do you have a cold, headache, insomnia, or a sports injury that’s bugging you? Or are you wanting advice on coping with stress, resolving a conflict situation, or dealing with addiction, friends or parents? Are you wondering where to get travel vaccines, how to treat skin problems, or are you needing tips on vitamin/supplement use?
Just like at a regular medical clinic, the NVSS clinic is a place students can ask all kinds of questions and get pretty much any help they might need. Dr. Campbell says that students are well informed already, but they may want to just get a professional opinion and ask “Is this normal?” without having to Google it or ask their peers.
There are five ways to make a clinic appointment. Students can call the Omineca Medical Clinic 250-567-2011; go to the online scheduling app https://nvssclinic.setmore.com/; email NVSSclinic@gmail.com; talk to Mrs. Vahi for help; or just show up and if the door is closed then wait a few minutes while the doctor is busy with another student. Pre-booked appointments are 30 minutes long, but students rarely need to use the full time if they just want to pop in to ask a quick question. There’s no charge, no need to bring a care card or anything.
The bonus of having the clinic right there is students are empowered to take charge of their own self-care. Students don’t have to take time off school and parents don’t have to take time away from work to drive them to an appointment. It’s so much easier for students to access a medical professional and without the three week wait time! There’s no front desk or nursing staff, students deal directly with the doctor so it’s more private and the online booking system is completely confidential as names are not recorded. Students can see which doctor is scheduled a month at a time, and if the concern can wait, then they can plan to see the physician they are most comfortable with.
The NVSS clinic improves student access to information, and it helps with early intervention and the clinic increases youth access to supports and counselling services. The attending doctors have access to a computer connected to patient files, exactly like at the Omineca Medical Clinic and all completely confidential.
“The best care generally involves families, so we encourage students to discuss health issues with their parents, but students can be assured about confidentiality, this is confirmed at the start of every appointment,” says Dr. Campbell. “We’re not going to say anything to your family unless you are at risk of harming yourself or others, or unless you want us to.”
Dr. Kahn says “Having the clinic at school should make things a lot easier. For youth it’s really difficult with issues of stress, anxiety and depression – sometimes the wait times are so long. It’ll be so great for students to be able to get a second opinion on something that is concerning.”
The clinic has been open since January 2018 and the word is finally getting out. Dr. Khan was in the clinic on Wednesday Feb. 14, and she was delighted to see 10 students that morning – two were scheduled and eight were walk-in patients.
There will be a NVSS clinic open house on the night of the parent teacher interviews and all grades will be invited to a pizza lunch open house as well.
This brand new initiative is a collaborative partnership with the Omineca Medical Clinic, Nechako Valley community Services Society and School District #91 and the brainchild of the government-funded CYMHSU (Child & Youth Mental Health Substance Use) Local Action Team.
