News Leader News for January 20, 2009
RCMP CONTINUE INVESTIGATIONS
Princeton RCMP are investigating a shooting which occurred at approximately 7:15 PM on Monday, January 12th on Webster Street in Hedley.
"The gunshot victim fled the scene and was subsequently attended to by BC Ambulance personnel in Hedley," says Princeton RCMP Detachment Sgt. Gary Macahonic.
The victim was later transported to hospital in Penticton.
The 24-year old man was treated at Princeton Regional Hospital for a non-life threatening wound to his arm/elbow and received surgery.
"When police attended to the scene of the shooting the suspect and two other individuals surrendered to police without incident."
A 40-year old male was taken in custody and appeared in Penticton Court the following day to face several weapon-related charges.
"Both subjects are residents of Hedley and known to each other," Sgt. Macahonic adds. RCMP continue to investigate the incident.
Members of the RCMP "E" Division Serious Crimes Unit, in conjunction with members of the Princeton RCMP Detachment, continue to investigate the murder of Willard Bruce McInroy which occurred in Princeton in early December 2008.
"Investigators cannot comment on the investigation other than to say that they have completed most of the interviews of McInroy's friends and associates and are working diligently to follow up investigational leads," states Princeton Detachment Sgt. Gary Macahonic.
If you have any information that may assist in the investigation, you are asked to contact local police at (250) 295-6911.
INTERIOR HEALTH ISSUES STATEMENT
Interior Health issued the following statement titled, 'Information on Princeton General Hospital' to the News Leader late Friday, January 16th.
"Interior Health would like to confirm that we are committed to the community of Princeton, and we are committed to keeping Princeton General Hospital open.
"While we are recruiting additional permanent physicians for Princeton, Interior Health is using the services of locums (physicians on contract) to maintain hospital coverage. As of February 1st the Interior Health locum package will mirror the provincial program. Some locums have indicated this change means they are unlikely to return to work in Princeton. Interior Health, local physicians, the Town of Princeton and the Ministry of Health Services are all working diligently to ensure Princeton has sufficient physicians to ensure proper Emergency Department coverage at Princeton General Hospital.
"It's important to remember that family physician recruitment and retention in rural communities is a challenge across BC, indeed across Canada. Interior Health is taking steps to address this challenge and ensure the community gets the health care and emergency services it needs. We are committed to keeping Princeton General Hospital open. We have applied to the provincial rural locum program, HealthMatch, which assists in the recruitment of locum physicians.
"We continue to work with local elected officials on the recruitment of health care professionals to Princeton; both the Town and Interior Health are offering incentives to bring qualified people to the area. For example Interior Health is assuming the cost of housing for locums through renting a house and an apartment. The Cascade Medical Clinic Physicians' office was relocated to the hospital last March where physicians may lease space; they no longer need to set up their own office and find staff.
"And finally, Princeton is eligible for funding under the FPs4BC program (Family Physicians for BC); a joint initiative of the Ministry of Health Services and the BC Medical Association that encourages physicians to establish a group practice in areas of need by assisting with up to $100,000.00 in financial support.
"Princeton is a wonderful community with many excellent attributes and Interior Health is hopeful that we will be successful in not only recruiting physicians to Princeton, but also ensuring they're a good fit and will want to call Princeton home for a long time to come."
HOW THE RURAL LOCUM PROGRAM STARTED
The original news release issued by the Ministry of Health Services - BC Medical Association was dated September 19, 2008 and was titled,
'Rural BC communities get better doctor coverage.'
Here is what that release said:
More than 60 rural communities in British Columbia are set to benefit from changes to the Province's rural doctor coverage program, which are made possible by a funding increase of approximately $800,000.00 on top of the $2.6-million provided annually for this program, announced Health Services Minister George Abbott.
Revisions to BC's Rural General Practitioner Locum Program will increase financial incentives up to $1,000.00 per day based upon community isolation and the enhanced skills necessary to support the community's hospital.
"Physicians offering locum services to provide relief for general practitioners practising in eligible rural communities will be compensated at different rates depending on the degree of isolation of the community and on the additional skills they provide to hospitals in those rural communities," said Abbott.
"Revisions are also being made to BC's Rural Specialist Locum Program to attract more locum relief for specialists working in eligible rural communities. The enhancements to our rural locum programs are part of our strategy to strengthen health-care services in rural communities and ensure that patients have the best access to medical care."
The Rural General Practitioner and the Rural Specialist Locum Programs are province-wide initiatives designed to help physicians working in eligible rural communities to secure subsidized periods of leave from their practices for vacation or continuing education. These programs are developed and implemented by the Province in collaboration with the BCMA (British Columbia Medical Association) through the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues (JSC).
"The Rural Locum Program provides a great opportunity for doctors to experience working and living in different areas of the province," said Dr. Granger Avery, co-chair of the JSC and a rural GP.
"But more importantly, it reduces the challenges that rural doctors face when looking for locum replacements when time off from their practice is needed. We're pleased to work with the government on this program."
The new guidelines recognize differences in degrees of isolation of rural communities within four categories. This eliminates the flat rate currently provided to all physicians for locum service and the standard number of days offered for potential locum relief. The enhancements will strengthen medical coverage for BC's more isolated and vulnerable communities.
Effective October 1, 2008, the following changes will be made to the rural locum programs:
- Physicians providing general practitioner locum services will be compensated at rates ranging from $750.00 to $900.00, depending on the degree of isolation of the host community;
- General practitioner locums will receive between $50.00 and $100.00 on top of the daily rate if they provide specific, core services needed by the rural hospital and provided by the host physician. These include: general surgery, anesthesia, emergency medicine and obstetrics;
- Rural physicians will receive up to 43 days of potential general practitioner locum support, depending on the level of isolation of the community where they practise;
- The rate paid to specialists providing locum services to 18 rural communities will increase to $1,200.00 per day; and
- The potential number of days of locum relief for specialists in rural communities will increase to 35 days to recognize the time spent in professional development activities.
To be eligible for the Rural General Practitioners Locum Program, physicians must work in a community with seven or fewer physicians. For eligibility in the Rural Specialist Locum Program physicians must work in specified communities with fewer than five specialists working in the areas of general surgery, anesthesia, internal medicine, orthopedics, pediatrics and obstetrics. The 18 designated Rural Specialist Locum Program communities in BC are: Campbell River, Comox, Courtney, Cranbrook, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Kitimat, Nelson, Port Alberni, Powell River, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Quesnel, Sechelt, Smithers, Terrace, Trail and Williams Lake.
These changes and the continuing review of rural programs by the JSC reflect the joint commitment by the Province and the BC Medical Association to maintain BC's national leadership position in the provision of health care services to rural communities.
For more information on the changes to the Rural General Practitioners Locum Program and the Rural Specialist Locum Program, as well as information on how to become a locum, visit
www.health.gov.bc.ca/pcb/rural.html.
