October 11, 2025
Happy Fall!
We are making some changes in the practise with implementing some tools to help manage patient flow better with AI, automation and secure messaging. Effective July 1, 2025 our on line booking will be managed by Cortico https://stgeorges.cortico.ca. You will need to register through this booking tool and you will be asked to sign permission for us to use AI scribe as well as telemedicine and secure email messaging. Appointments should preferably be made through the booking site whenever possible.
Same day urgent appointments will also be available on line and will become available at 8 am for URGENT matters only.
Althought we continiue to see patients in person, by phone and virutally, OUR PREFERENCE IS TO SEE YOU IN PERSON. We feel that your medical needs are always better addressed in person than on the phone and this is imperative for all new complaints. If you are booking a phone appointment, please be ready 10 minutes before your appointment time and up to 60 minutes afterwards. Medical practise is unpredictable and we will often run late.
For those of you who have not seen your family physician in the last 3 years, it would be a good idea to book an appointment to update us on your health. This is necessary to ensure you remain an active patient in our practises. We are inundated with phone calls to take on new clients, so it is imperative you stay active in our practises. There are 1 million British Columbians without family physicians, so please be mindful of this and leave the walk in clinics to those patients.
Whenever possible, please book appointments preferably on line through the booking tool above.Phone or virtual appointments can be made for renewal of prescriptions or follow up of results.
PLEASE NOTE, WE WILL BE CHARGING FOR MISSED APPTS AS THE DEMAND FOR APPOINTMENTS IS EXTREMELY HIGH
Any patient requests will require a physician appointment. Please be aware that when prescriptions and requisitions are sent remotely, it takes several days to process them on the receiving end.
There have been lengthy delays in getting appointments for lab work, radiology and specialist consults. CT, MRIs and specialist appointments can be up to a one year wait. Please do not call the office to inquire about your wait times as it ties up the phones unnecessarily.
We feel it is unsafe to have pharmacists extend your prescriptions for longer than a week as no one is then following your treatment. We have prescriptions run out to remind you to book a follow up appointment so we can monitor whether your treatment is doing what it is meant to do. It is in your best interest to continue to make appointments to renew your prescriptions.
Our email address is only to be used to send us information we have requested. Please put “Dr. (Penner, Roeck, Pharo, Khalafi, Jenkins ) 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.
Sincerely,
Drs. Penner, Roeck, Pharo, Khalafi and Jenkins
New studies show that alcohol in excess of 2 drinks per week increases your risk for 7 different kinds of cancer most notably breast and colon CA but includes cancer of the oropharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, and rectum.
It is also associated with increased risk of cardiovascular death, liver disease and injury.
It does not matter what type of alcohol you drink or your tolerance level.
Nearly 4% of cancers diagnosed worldwide in 2020 can be attributed to alcohol consumption, according to the World Health Organization.
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 locum.
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.
If the treatment offered does not yield the desired results, or the problem does not resolve, please book an appointment to inform us of this so we can order further investigations to get to the bottom of your issue.
Drs. Penner, Roeck, Pharo Khalafi and Jenkins
