How to Access Health Care in The Cowichan Valley 6

Your Family Doctor is Here for You

Did you know that most family doctors offer same day appointments if you need to be seen for an urgent concern?

Cowichan Valley family physician lead Dr. Graham Blackburn explains, “Through this crisis, family doctors and specialists have been caring for people by phone and video, and we are doing in-person visits when needed. We’re taking proper precautions like physical distancing in our waiting rooms, wearing masks, and frequent cleaning of surfaces, to keep staff and our patients safe.”

Information at Your Fingertips

Visit pathwaysbcvirtualcare. ca for info on how to access your doctors’ offices, urgent care centres and local walkin clinics. If you don’t have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, you can always call 811 to speak to a nurse for medical advice.

Accessing Cowichan’s Urgent Care Clinics

Many people may not be aware that the Ladysmith and Chemainus Urgent Care Centres are open to any resident of the Cowichan Valley, seven days a week from 7:30 am until 10:30pm. These urgent care centres are like mini-emergency rooms, seeing minor injuries and illnesses like broken bones, cuts, infections but with shorter

“if you are having a major medical emergency, the ER is a safe place to go”

wait times. Lab is open every day until 3:30 pm, and Xrays are available by appointment weekdays until 5:30 pm, and for urgent cases on weekends.

When to Visit the Emergency Department

If you have a life-threatening situation, like trouble breathing, chest pain, severe pain or bleeding, you should go to the Cowichan District Hospital ER or call 911.

“If it’s not a life threatening emergency, we want you to always start by calling your family doctor or nurse practitioner first,” says Island Health Cowichan medical director Dr. Maki Ikemura.

“They know you the best and will give you expert medical care and advice.”

For more information and resources:

• divisionsbc.ca/cowichanvalley • pathwaysbc.ca/cowichan • pathwaysbcvirtualcare.ca islandhealth.ca Traditional Chinese Exercise for Health

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