Family physician numbers are being maintained in 2024-25, despite pending retirements in the region.
The numbers were a part of the Interior Health (IH) Primary Care and Public Health update presented to Vernon council on Monday, June 9.
Darren Klassen, director of clinical operations for IH's Primary Care and Public Health and Tracey Kirkman, executive director with the Shuswap North Okanagan Division of Family Practice, presented the numbers as a part of their bi-annual update to the region.
Currently, there are 58 family physicians in the Shuswap North Okanagan, with four new recruits added in 2024-25.
The numbers are being "maintained," given pending retirements, with support from pharmacists.
Additionally, seven nurse practitioners in Vernon provide primary care.
"They have attached over 4,000 patients, and prevent them from becoming orphaned as family physicians retired," said Kirkman.
The Vernon Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) has attached close to 2,300 patients, and averages 73 patient encounters a day.
Since Sept. 2024, 570 patients have been attached from the registry, and the Care Connect IDA pharmacy walk-in clinic opened, along with an after-hours phone line and the approval of another UPCC.
The second UPCC is slated to open in the winter of 2026, but no specific date has been set yet, according to Klassen.
Asked by Coun. Kelly Fehr on the percentage of individuals in Vernon without a family doctor, Klassen couldn't be sure.
"Right now in Vernon, there is 4,211 people on the Health Connect registry, but the evidence of data on who doesn't have a primary care provider is hard to obtain," said Klassen. "Without getting people to register on Health Connect, there is no real number, but we are working for that as a number."
Jonathan Malo, a medical health officer with IH, provided an update on measles for the Southern Interior.
No cases have been reported in the Interior, but there have been some in the Lower Mainland.
"We are actively promoting and catching up on measles vaccinations, but there is lots of room to improve," said Malo. "
Currently, the measles vaccination rate in Vernon is 76 per cent for two-year-olds and 64 per cent for seven-year-olds.
"Our target is 95 per cent, which is what we consider herd immunity, where we wouldn't expect prolonged outbreaks," said Malo. "There are a number of things that contribute to the low rates, including anti-vaccine sentiment and complacency, which is why we are doing extra outreach to let families know.
"I wouldn't be surprised to see cases in the Interior region," added Malo.
Malo also explained a new, on demand STI testing program that has been launched in Vernon, as of June 1.
"Patients can receive STI testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV, without needing to see a healthcare provider," said Malo. "The program will be available at the IH lab at the hospital and Dynacare labs on 30th Avenue and Anderson Way."
More information on the program can be found at interiorhealth.ca/services/accessing-on-demand-sti-testing
