KELOWNA – With a shortage of physicians in many B.C. communities, finding a family doctor can be tough. In the central Okanagan, most clinics are at full patient capacity.
The provincial government launched the “GP for Me” initiative in 2013 to match doctors with patients. While the program is province-wide, it was tailored to seniors in the Kelowna area.
“We recognized the senior population in our area is quite unique compared to the rest of province,” says Tristan Smith with the Division of Family Practice. “While other areas of division practice have focused on different demographics, we in the central Okanagan have focused on those over 65.”
A recent survey by the Central Okanagan Division of Family Practice said there were roughly 4,000 seniors in the region struggling to find a doctor.
“We estimate there are a few thousand seniors in central Okanagan that don’t have a family doctor that want one,” confirmed Smith. But he added that since the program started, more than 250 seniors in the region have already been matched with physicians.
If you are interested in the program, you can call 250-718-8116 or click here for more information.
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