Island Health has established its own primary care clinic in Port McNeill, replacing a private clinic that had been reduced to one doctor who was asking the province for more resources.
The Mount Waddington Regional Hospital District purchased the Medical Collaborative building and land at 2161 McNeill Rd. from Dr. Prean Armogam for about $400,000. The clinic plans to be fully operational by the end of the month.
Armogam, the clinic’s lone physician, intends to continue his outreach work in the communities of Woss, Rivers Inlet, Zeballos, and Sointula, as well as continue to support the Port McNeill Hospital and community.
Island Health is providing Armogam with clinic space and administrative office support in Woss, Sointula and for at least the next six months he will work out of the health authority owned-and-operated Port McNeill clinic “as permanent clinicians are recruited to the community” and while he transitions patients.
One physician — whom Armogam enthusiastically endorses — has been recruited and another is in negotiations.
Armogam, at the centre of a controversial transition because he criticized the health authority for not giving his clinic the permanent resources he needed, said at the end of the day he “pushed them over the finish line for this model change that we’re getting.”
Armogam was worried for patients after the health authority recently set up a separate temporary clinic using locums — a doctor who stands in to cover shifts temporarily. Now with the health authority clinic he’s pleased patients will get the integrated care he had been advocating. At the same time that victory is tainted by a personal “moral injury” in that the clinic is using his name to transition patients he won’t get to treat.
Armogam would like to also be able to work out of the clinic part time.
“I feel that I’m abandoning patients to the convenience of Island Health when they don’t really have a plan,” said Armogam. He was going to cut back on hours anyway, but he said the less political and more prudent way forward would have been to allow him to work out of the clinic to endorse the new practitioners and smoothly move over patients.
“I just want to care for people,” said Armogam. “I’d be happy to transition patients out to permanent providers to ensure all of our regional patients are looked after,” he said, agreeing that he’s viewed as a trouble maker.
Andrew Hory, board chairperson of the regional hospital district, said the district is proud to help with the health authority’s vision of providing a publicly owned-and-operated primary care clinic for the Port McNeill region.
Leah Hollins, board chairperson for Island Health, said it will take a full community effort “to create a sustainable long-term primary care model in Port McNeill.”
Island Health said that the new clinic model is leading to “significant interest” from physicians across Canada as it tries to recruit additional permanent physicians to live and work in Port McNeill. “We hope to have news to share in the near future.” Island Health plans to upgrade the Port McNeill clinic “to create an optimal patient and provider experience.”
While upgrades are completed at the permanent clinic location, Island Health will operate at the McNeill Road office and its temporary site at 1584 Broughton Blvd. Island Health plans to move all operations to McNeill Road by the end of August. Patients wanting to book an appointment can call 1-866-956-2007.
Marie Hunt, Kwakiutl band council health director, said the Kwakwaka’wakw people have been the stewards of the land “since time immemorial” and look forward to working with Island Health to create a space that provides culturally safe care that is inclusive of “our traditions and practices.” Island Health said it will give the clinic a name that is reflective of the history of the region.
Island Health said anyone with questions about the Port McNeill clinic can call 1-866-956-2007 or email [email protected]
