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What’s New? Public Information Meeting

Please join us at the Anglican Parish Hall on Saturday, May 4 at 1 pm for another public information meeting with four main agenda items.

We’ll be introducing our newest Nurse Practitioner Lee-Ann Jespersen, a Pender resident who has been practicing on Galiano for the past three years. We offer a very warm welcome to Lee-Ann as she joins the team at the Health Centre.

We’ll be presenting results from the community health services survey that was conducted in February. There was a great response, with over a quarter of residents participating, and almost 2800 written comments. Come and find out what you and your neighbours said about health and wellness service needs and priorities!

There will be an update on the planning process for a Primary Care Network (PCN) that includes all four Outer Gulf Islands (Pender, Mayne, Galiano and Saturna). The OGI Sustainable Communities Summit was held in Sidney on March 11, with a follow-up Summit meeting on April 27.

And we are pleased to welcome the new BC Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt for a brief presentation. His office monitors and analyzes seniors’ services and makes recommendations to government and service providers to address systemic issues in five areas: health care; housing; income support; community support; and transportation. Dan has tirelessly championed the rights of seniors for 30 years at the provincial, national and international levels and is a recognized leader in his field. We look forward to hearing his thoughts about his role and advocacy for BC seniors.

posted April 28 2024

Speaker Series: Here’s to Your Good Health!

We breathe in and out about 22,000 times a day. Our lungs take in air, pass oxygen to the bloodstream for use by our tissues and organs, and remove carbon dioxide from our blood, releasing it when we exhale. And yet, most of us rarely think about our lungs and their vital function, unless there is some sort of problem.

On Saturday, May 11 at 2 pm at the Community Hall (upstairs), Pender’s own Dr. Peter Paré will speak at our fifth talk in the series: Breathe Easy: Lung Health and Disease. Peter is an emeritus Professor of Respiratory Medicine at UBC and a Clinician Scientist at St. Paul’s Hospital and the UBC Centre for Heart Lung Innovation (among other things!). He has published more than 440 peer-reviewed articles, and in addition to his teaching and original research, he is one of four co-authors of Diagnosis of Diseases of the Chest, a widely used four-volume text on the diagnosis of lung disease. Peter’s research expertise is in the study of the pathophysiology and genetics of asthma and COPD.

Peter’s knowledge and experience are a deep and valuable resource, and he’s an engaging speaker. We’re grateful to him for offering this talk. Please join us, and learn something new about those two pink, spongy organs in your chest. (and, of course, no smoking allowed!)

posted April 28 2024

Speaker Series: A Guide to Healthy Aging to AVOID Frailty

A new video is available on our Speaker Series page.

The talk “A Guide to Healthy Aging to AVOID Frailty” is presented by Dr. Grace Park. Dr. Park is the regional medical director for Home Health with Fraser Health Authority and a practicing family physician. She provides medical direction for the Home and Community Care program to support and help clients to live independently at home for as long as possible.

posted March 28 2024

Public Meeting
Learn about health care initiatives for Pender

Saturday, February 24, 2024, 2:30 pm at the Community Hall

Health care services on Pender, Galiano, Mayne and Saturna islands are currently under examination by Island Health, the Doctors of BC, and the Ministry of Health. To address equitable and appropriate allocation of health care services and to promote integrated team-based care on all four islands, a series of meetings and discussions are being held with the four islands’ health societies to develop a Primary Care Network (PCN) for the islands. 

To build greater community awareness, Pender Islands Health Care Society (PIHCS) will hold an open public meeting at the Community Hall on Saturday February 24th at 2:30 pm. 

Although this is very short notice, please attend to learn more about our health care needs, challenges and potential opportunities for the outer gulf islands, and what PIHCS is advocating for in order to improve services on Pender.

posted January 31 2024

We want to hear from you.

From February 1 to February 15, The Pender Islands Health Care Society (PIHCS) is conducting a community-wide survey on the health service needs of North and South Pender residents.

PIHCS exists to facilitate access to primary and complementary health and wellness services on the Penders, and to meet this goal, is asking the community about its priorities, perceptions and needs. Where are the gaps in services? What is already being done well? How can services be improved? Are there parts of our community that are under-served?

The Health Care Society is listening, and wants to hear all voices.

The survey is open to all Pender Island residents, whether they live here full-time or part-time. All ages are encouraged to complete the survey by clicking on the Take The Survey button on the PIHCS home page. The survey will be available until February 15.

Survey replies are anonymous and confidential, and IP addresses will not be collected. Response data will be analyzed collectively and shared with the community, and will help to inform future plans for ensuring appropriate and equitable care for all.

Although there are no cash prizes for participating, participants will be rewarded by engaging in the consultation and having their voices heard, and ultimately by contributing to a more robust and comprehensive suite of health and wellness services on the Pender Islands.

PIHCS sincerely thanks everyone who invests a few minutes of their time to help their community. In the spring of 2024, an open community meeting is planned, when results will be shared and discussed.

posted January 31 2024

A Tribute to Marion Alksne on her Retirement

Not one to toot her own horn, she reiterates the point, frequently, that it takes a team to keep the place going. And while she’ll tell you it was an amazing team to work with, she’ll also tell you it was an amazing time, with a pandemic to get through first and foremost. “It’s been a long haul.”

“If there was a gift I could give this team, it would be that they could stop for a time,” Marion says. But she also knows there’s no stopping them. All want to improve on not only the aging building but the services that the Health Care Centre provides. When asked what she is most proud of from her term as executive director, she points first to the team and then to how much she has learned in the role, everything from navigating through a pandemic and upgrading a septic system.

And are there any regrets as she leaves? “Only that I hate that I’m leaving a pile on my desk.” It’s the nature of the beast that each day would start with a pile on her desk demanding attention. Trouble was, and still is, that things arise every day, to be added to that pile. It’s a never ending cycle so there is never the satisfaction of looking at a clean desk and being able to say that everything is done. “I hate that I’m leaving a pile on my desk,” she says. “I’ve usually been able to get jobs done, things tidied.” But the work to upgrade the building and get the medical clinic running efficiently is a work in progress that will be now shouldered by Annette Garm, the new executive director who is enthusiastically backed by Marion.

She has served during a difficult time affected by three years of pandemic conditions. Nevertheless, her leadership saw the development of a strategic plan, a new awareness of the need for major capital upgrades, a referendum on taxation to support Health Centre operations, taking on the administration of the medical clinic, and even a flood in the crawl space. As her term draws to a close, Marion has been working closely with Outer Gulf Islands (OGI) health centres to find a common voice on how best to deliver primary care for our island communities for years into the future.

On behalf of the board, and the Pender Islands community, thank you for your professionalism, dedication, patience, knowledge, and caring ways.

posted November 27 2023

Speaker Series: Cardiovascular Disease in Women with Dr. Karin Humphries

A new video is available on our Speaker Series page.

Heart disease claims the life of one in five women, yet remains under-diagnosed and under-treated. Why is this? Learn about cardiovascular disease in women, how you can understand and reduce your risk factors (no matter what your age!) and how to work with your health care providers to maintain heart health.

posted November 27 2023

Welcome Morgan Cross

Morgan is registered under the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of BC, and is looking forward to helping our community in healing and health optimization. She practices with a nature-based and holistic perspective, using acupuncture to help restore functional relationships in the body. By inserting fine needles into specific anatomical points, acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural healing response in a wide range of internal, mental-emotional, and musculoskeletal conditions; the addition of Morgan to the Health Centre’s team of allied health and wellness practitioners is great news for Pender.

To start, she will be open for treatments on Sundays, offering more days as demand increases. To book an appointment or for more information, please visit www.alignacupuncture.ca.

Welcome, Morgan!

posted October 16 2023

New Executive Director Appointed

The board of the Pender Islands Health Care Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Annette Garm as our incoming Executive Director. In December, she will officially succeed Marion Alksne who is retiring after five years of dedicated service. Until then, Annette is working closely with Marion and taking an active part in the Society’s work as she transitions to full responsibility.

Annette brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our organization, particularly in the realm of community health, healthcare administration, project management, and leadership in health organizations in BC. She has two master's degrees, one of them in Nursing. Annette has also completed the rigorous EXTRA certification from the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (EXTRA stands for “Executive Training in Health Research Application”).

Throughout her career, Annette has served in leadership positions in rural and urban settings in BC and the NWT. She held director level roles with the Fraser Health Authority for 15 years with a focus on seniors. Annette's commitment to improving health service delivery and care for at-risk populations is evident through her participation in many funded research projects. Outside of work, Annette has been active on community boards, including the Delta Hospital Foundation and the Delta Police Board.

While Annette's primary residence is in Tsawwassen, she has housing on Pender that allows her to be present in a way that reflects the part-time nature of her role and facilitates her commitment to being part of the community. Indeed, she is excited by the opportunity to support the healthcare needs of our island.

posted September 25 2023

Annual General Meeting

The Society’s Annual General Meeting is set for September 25 at the Legion at 10:00 a.m. To attend, you must be a member of the Society. To join, please complete our application form.

If you’re already a member, thank you. You should have received a reminder email to renew your membership and attend the AGM. Members receive an agenda for the meeting in advance, including the names of directors proposed for election.

Our thanks to the directors for the work that they do to manage the Health Centre in support of the community’s wellbeing.

posted September 9 2023

We’re Hiring

The Society is looking to fill casual positions at the front desk as Medical Office Assistants (MOA) and for Health Centre cleaners. If you think these jobs are a fit for your skills and interests, please drop off a résumé to Marion Alksne at the Health Centre or at info@penderislandhealth.org.

posted September 8 2023

Grant for IT Upgrades

The Health Care Society has won a $95,000 grant to upgrade its telecommunications and information technology (IT) infrastructure from the Federal Community Services Recovery Fund.

When the pandemic curtailed in-person access to the Health Centre, we relied on virtual communication with patients and clients as never before. The use of Facetime and Zoom increased dramatically, putting a strain on our outdated IT and telecommunications infrastructure.

This funding allows the Health Centre to upgrade hardware and software and train staff on new systems. Modernized infrastructure will allow more effective, secure, and private use of services such as Tele-health and other electronic communications to better meet community needs.

posted August 1 2023

Community Health Team

Imagine a month in which 72 island families needed direct nursing care, help finding critical resources or arranging practical home help, health education, or just a listening ear. A big shout-out to our Community Health Support Team of Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), and Community Health Workers (CHWs) who provide this vital service.

As Island Health employees, they are based out of the Pender Island Health Centre but support patients on Pender, Mayne and Saturna. These professionals experience all aspects of life, always with the goal that people remain in their homes safely.

This important work is part of a continuum of care between physicians and the nurse practitioner, in consultation with the client, the family, and the team. With eight years in her role, RN Miranda MacKenzie speaks passionately about the relationships that the team forms with families. She respects the resilience of individuals and how consistently neighbours step in to provide meaningful support. Pender at its best!

front row (l-r): Lisa Jones, RN for Mayne & Pender; Lorraine Hughes, CHW

back row (l-r): Miranda MacKenzie, RN for Pender & Saturna; Rachel Marticotte, CHW; Ruthie Fehr, LPN, Home Support Supervisor; Carmel Kozak, RN for Pender

posted August 1 2023

Lions Club Comes Through, Again!

The Lions Club support for the Health Centre goes over 50 years and shows no sign of letting up. This past year, the club funded just shy of $7,000 in various pieces of medical equipment on the Health Centre’s wish list.

We had so much fun with club members when they dropped by the clinic to see the donated equipment firsthand. Who knew that a weigh scale, wheelchair, blood pressure cuffs, liquid nitrogen gun, and blanket warmer could be so much fun?

Each item has made a critical difference and is a testament to their dedication to enhancing the well-being of this community. Even the big box that the wheelchair came in was put to good use and is now a decorated “house” for a thrilled 3-year-old.

posted July 17 2023

Welcome Back!

The Health Centre is excited to welcome back Drs. Rebner and Wiens from their working sabbatical in New Zealand. We’re enjoying hearing about their experiences, after they get a chance to get used to the Northern Hemisphere! Truly we celebrate both their family’s chance to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity, and the fact that they’re back “home.” We’re also appreciative to Drs. Amyree and Knight for providing locum coverage during the leave period. Thank you, all!

posted July 2 2023

Our Dedicated Staff

While the Medical Clinic continues to face the same challenges as most other health care facilities, it’s good to be reminded of the positives, right here on Pender:

• Dr. Knight has been providing frequent locum coverage for almost four years and continues to assist with partial coverage of the physician vacancy;

• Nurse Practitioner Adams has been full time at the clinic for 13+ years; and,

• the Medical Office Assistant team in the front office continues to adjust to ensure smooth day-to-day functioning.

Working together, this group of health care professionals has been the backbone of the medical clinic, especially this past six months when various locum physicians have been available from time to time to cover our physician vacancy.

(l-r) Brittanny; Christine; Beverly; Tracey Adams, NP; Dr. C. Knight; Jane, Kristina
Missing: Marcella and Barb

posted June 28 2023

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