Marine Medical Clinic has reopened following consultations with College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia.
The clinic on Marine Avenue closed temporarily in August in response to policy changes made by the college, which required clinics to assume the duties of a family doctor after a patient’s initial visit.
“After the college received a few letters of complaint from Powell River residents, they were really open to helping us solve the problem,” said Guy Chartier, spokesperson from the Powell River Division of Family Practice.
According to J. Galt Wilson, senior deputy minister at the college, the policy change was made to ensure patients in rural and urban areas have the same quality longterm care whether they go to a family doctor or a clinic.
“What I tell doctors in Powell River, Trail or Prince George is you start by maintaining a longitudinal record,” said Wilson, “so every doctor seeing the patient can see the whole picture and use that to inform their care of that patient.”
The college’s policy changes this summer were not new, but were the outcome of amalgamating and clarifying earlier policies from 2008, said Wilson.
“The new standards are actually less onerous,” said Wilson. ”If the patient is attending repeatedly at the same clinic, doctors have to recognize that and ask that patient if they have or want a family doctor.”
Wilson said the change marks the college’s response to the increasing use of walk-in clinics as places of primary medical care.
“If somebody is getting all of their care at a walk-in clinic, that clinic location is in fact their family physician,” said Wilson. “Many people in BC and the rest of the country get all of their primary care from a walk-in clinic and they should get the same standard of care as someone with a family doctor.”
Part of the new requirement is that doctors at walk-in clinics maintain longterm records on patients.
“The college cannot compel excellent care,” said Wilson, “but we can compel a standard that meets minimum expectations.”
Marine Medical Clinic is now open Monday through Thursday, 2 to 4:30 pm.
