In November 2023, Vernon, the central service and commercial hub of the North Okanagan, was at a turning point. An estimated 25,000 people in the region were without a family physician or readily accessible health care. Adding to the problem, the last walk-in clinic in the area had recently closed, creating extensive wait times to meet with a doctor, and putting pressure on already stressed hospital emergency departments.

To address this critical issue, Community Futures North Okanagan (CFNO), in partnership with other community organizations, took the lead on developing a business and operational plan for a Community Health Clinic (CHC) to serve the region. The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) supported the project through its Building Economic Development Capacity funding stream, with additional support from CFNO and the City of Vernon.

A New Model of Healthcare

The business plan was created by Hive Business Solutions, specialists in health care planning. It provides a detailed picture of the proposed CHC model, identifying partners, opportunities, services that will be provided, as well as construction and operational costs. The community-governed model is new to the North Okanagan. It will be operated and governed by CFNO, a non-profit society with 40 years experience in program development and delivery in the community. Clinic services will focus on patient groups experiencing challenges accessing health care services, particularly elder care, and prenatal and maternity care.

Another distinction of the CHC model is the partnerships with local organizations that can be leveraged to provide a greater suite of services and patients supports. Several community partners, from local health professionals to rehabilitation specialists have committed to providing services to the clinic.

While the CHC is not a walk-in clinic, it will include a walk-in service to meet urgent needs of patients who are both attached and unattached to a physician. By the time the clinic is fully staffed, 6,200 local community patients are expected to be registered with a primary care provider.

The facility is also expected to provide significant economic benefits including a reduction in hospitalizations and hospital readmissions. Leigha Horsfield, Executive Director of the CFNO says several new jobs will be created, including doctors, nurses, specialty health care workers and medical office assistants. As the clinic evolves, revenues may be captured by additional services such as an on-site pharmacy and dental care.

“For workers of all types considering a move to the North Okanagan, timely, consistent access to care is a significant factor, and a healthy workforce allows businesses to operate efficiently and productively,” adds Horsfield.

Benefit to Healthcare Workers

Previously, ETSI-BC had also provided funding for the Rural and Northern Immigration Program delivered by CFNO which will dovetail with recruitment for the CHC. The project also aligns with the UBC Okanagan’s new family physician residency program approved for the North Okanagan. The CHC will operate as a teaching site where medical residents work alongside seasoned physicians to learn and develop skills and are potential candidates for future job openings. CFNO has also invested in construction of two homes that will be able to house up to six medical residents.

“Without the support of ETSI-BC in developing the business case, this project would take much longer to get off the ground despite being so urgently needed,” says Horsfield. An application for start-up and annual funding has been submitted to the BC Ministry of Health which has shown interest in projects that provide access to timely, comprehensive, and coordinated team-based care.

“ETSI-BC is proud to support this innovative project that addresses an urgent community issue which has direct economic development impacts. It can serve as a model for other areas of the province,” says Laurel Douglas, CEO of ETSI-BC. “The result will be a healthier, more resilient community that can attract and retain workers for generations to come.”