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IH quashes rumour of lab transfer
Interior Health (IH) has quashed a rumour about lab services being removed from Invermere & District Hospital.
After fielding questions from Columbia Valley residents hearing about lab services being moved to Kelowna, e-KNOW contacted Interior Health for more information.
The quick answer from Dr. Michael Moss, IH medical director for lab services: “There is no truth to these rumours.”
Dr. Moss then elaborated on IH’s lab services and a review process underway.
“Interior Health is reviewing the lab services it provides at all its sites as part of a larger strategy to ensure service levels are maintained or even enhanced for the future. This work is being driven by the pending retirement of significant number of IH lab staff in the years ahead and finding ways to continue to meet the needs of our communities given the challenge that lies ahead. We are committed to ensuring we continue to provide lab services throughout Interior Health.”
A possible root for the rumour growing in Invermere was a site visit by a lab services review team back in October.
“This sustainability project involves a lengthy review—about two years—and the first phase has included a project team travelling to 31 sites, including Invermere and District Hospital on October 6, to meet with lab staff and physicians—to deepen mutual understanding of how lab services are being delivered, including the needs of the site and the health services being provided in the community,” Dr. Moss said, adding, “We also had a chance to meet with local elected officials on that visit and explained our rationale and got a chance to listen to their concerns. The purpose of this consultation process was to listen and to learn, and we have received some excellent input so far.”
Dr. Moss noted there is no predetermined outcome for any of the 31 sites. “No decisions have been made, and as the medical lead for this strategy, I can assure residents using the Invermere lab that our desire is to keep the lab service sustainable and operational now and into the future.
“The most important point for residents of Invermere is to know that they will still have access to lab services at their local hospital.
Our priority is to try and find different ways of maintaining lab services that support patient care within the communities. The future model for how we achieve that will depend on the information gathered from our site visits and the specific needs of each site and its patients,” Dr. Moss stated.
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
