SEE ST GEORGE'S LASER FOR FALL PROMOTOIN
OFFICE UPDATES
Dear Patients: July 31, 2021
We hope you are all keeping well and managing to navigate the changing times as we come out of COVID19 isolation. The office has undergone some changes during this time. One of our MOAs, NIcola Bonnell, has been accepted into medical school at UBC. As much as we will miss her and feel the loss, we are excited for her and wish her all the best in her medical future. We have also lost Bridget Bethell to a Masters Degree and again we will miss her calm presence.
We are currently working short staffed and would greatly appreciate your patience as we navigate this difficult transition.
If possible, please make your request by email in order to keep the phone calls to a minimum and whenever possible, book your appointments on line through our booking tool.
We will still be doing VIRTUAL and PHONE appointments if an inpatient appointment is not necessary for the next several months.
Sincerely,
Drs. Penner, Roeck, Moric and Robinson
Please Welcome our Resident
July 31, 2021
We are privileged to participate with the UBC Faculty of Medicine by having one of their residents, Dr. Angela Joannou, work with us for the next year.
Angela is a first year Family Medicine Resident at the UBC Coastal Training Site based out of Lionsgate Hospital. Angela was born and raised on the North Shore, and completed her medical school training abroad in Dublin at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. She is very passionate about primary care and women’s health, and is thrilled to be completing her residency training in the amazing community of North Vancouver.
For your Medical information: Access Health Gateway
BC Services Card App and Health Gateway
Have you lost your proof of immunizations or would you like to access your health information from your home? Download your BC Services Card app and then access Health Gateway.
If you’d like to have access to your Immunization records in an electronic format, you can just Download the BC Services App on your mobile phone.
Once you follow the steps and your identity is verified (it takes less than 48 hours), you’ll be able to access the Health Gateway services provided by the Ministry of Health, that allows you to search, see, make notes and download all your health visits, medications, Covid-19 test results or immunization records.
The steps on how to setup you BC Services Card app are well described on the website, and it must be done by each individual, but here is a video on how to do it. Once your identity has been verified get all your records by accessing Health Gateway: https://www.healthgateway.gov.bc.ca/
Appointment Etiquette- YES we still see LIVE people
Virtual/Phone Appointments:
WE TAKE OUR APPOINTMENTS WITH YOU SERIOUSLY AND IT IS OUR EXPECTATION THAT YOU DO AS WELL. Please be available 10 minutes before your appointment time, in a PRIVATE SPACE with your BP/ Blood sugar readings available, the prescription you are requesting and the name of the pharmacy you like to use.
We have had patients receiving our phone calls while walking the dog, driving, shopping or in the garden and this is not appropriate. As usual, we sometimes run late so please DO NOT call the office and ask if we forgot about you unless we are more than 30 minutes late.
In Office Appointments:
WE ARE SEEING PATIENTS IN OFFICE IF NECESSARY. If we see it is necessary to bring you into the office, please come with a mask, NO GLOVES and NO EXTRA PEOPLE. . Please use the hand sanitizer at the door and touch as few things as possible as we clean everything you touch after you leave.
Running of the office:
UPDATED JULY 31, 2021
Dear Patients,
We are hoping your are all maintaining your health through this very difficult and trying time!
We would like to request your help with making the office run more efficiently. Since COVID, there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of phone calls the office receives.We would greatly appreciate your help to make this less frustrating for you and less overwhelming for the staff and physicians.
1. If you are able, please use our website for all bookings. It is www.sgmc.ca.
2. Please do not call the office to ask if the doctor has missed your appointment. Due to the unpredictable nature of medical needs, doctors often run late. Please be available with your ringer on or in the virtual waiting room (if doing a virtual appointment) 5 minutes before your appointment time; we will be with you as soon as possible. If you miss our phone call, we will circle back to you but please do not call into the office as it ties up the phone lines and urgent matters cannot get through.
3. We only do prescription renewals through an appointment. Please do not email, phone or have the pharmacy fax the office to ask for a prescription renewal. Book an appointment with your physician to review your prescription and have it renewed.
4. Results will only be reviewed through an appointment with your physician. Please do not call the office to ask about your results. Wait a few days after you have done your tests and then book an appointment with your physician to go over the results.
5. Our email address is only to be used to send us information we have requested. Please put “Dr. (Penner, Roeck, Moric or Robinson) requested this information” in the subject line and the email will be linked to your chart and forwarded to the appropriate physician. All other emails will be returned unread due to the large number of emails we are receiving requesting things of the staff. Any requests for information, reports etc need to be made through an appointment with your physician.
Thank you for your help and consideration.
Drs. Penner, Roeck, Moric and Robinson
SAY GOOD BYE TO SUNDAMAGED SKIN- FALL PROMOTIONS AVAILABLE!
COVID 19 VACCINE UPDATE
VACCINES ARE AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE 12 and older AT THIS TIME
Update July 31, 2021
We are now in phase 4 of the vaccine rollout and vaccine appointments are available for everyone age 12 and older. Please register for your COVID 19 vaccine on line at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/register.
The majority of the population has received at least one COVID 19 vaccine but in order to decrease the risk of spread for everyone, it is important that as many people as possible are fully vaccinated. If you have not been vaccinated, please consider the impact of that decision on those who are unable to protect themselves. We encourage everyone who is able to be vaccinated.
THIS WINTER SEASON CHOOSE THE RIGHT CARE AT THE RIGHT PLACE
Additional Information
HEALTH CONCERN?
Call your family doctor or care provider first
Same-day urgent in-person or virtual appointments are often available
FAMILY DOCTOR NOT AVAILABLE?
For Urgent and Primary Care Centre locations and hours check out vch.ca/UPCC
Check medimap.ca for UPCC and walk-in clinic wait times
COVID-19 TESTING?
Visit vch.ca/COVIDtesting for locations and hours
TRUSTED HEALTH ADVICE?
Contact HealthLinkBC at 8-1-1, available 24/7 or go to healthlinkbc.ca
CRITICAL OR LIFE THREATENING CONDITION?
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department
Request that a copy of your medical reports be sent to your family doctor. To check average ED wait times for your nearest hospital, visit edwaittimes.ca
URGENT MEDICATION REFILL?
Speak with your pharmacist
They can often provide short-term refills and other advice
vch.ca/wintercare
Doctors & Patients: Partners in Health
Health care provided by the same family doctor over time, leads to more satisfied patients and better health care.
As your family doctor, it's my job to provide you with medical care, maintain your medical record and coordinate referrals to other health care providers when they are needed.
As my patient, your role in your own health care is to try to see me and my team first for your health care needs since we know your health history and goals. This helps avoid duplicate tests, medication errors and even hospitalizations. Ultimately, it helps me to provide you with better, safer care.
As your family doctor, I and my practice team agree to:
Provide you with the best care that I can
Coordinate any specialty care you may need
Offer you timely access to care, to the best of my ability
Maintain an ongoing record of your health
Keep you updated on any changes to services offered at my clinic
Communicate with you honestly and openly so we can best address your health care needs
As my patient, I ask that you:
Seek your health care from me and my team whenever possible and, in my absence, through my colleague(s):
Name me as your family doctor if you have to visit an emergency facility or another provider
Communicate with me honestly and openly so we can best address your health care needs
Drs. Penner, Roeck, Moric and Robinson