Vancouver clinic changes may leave patients without doctors, says report co-authored by Providence Health Care's Dr. Garey Mazowita
An external review commissioned by Vancouver Coastal Health says the authority's plans to change services at a number of health clinics could leave vulnerable patients without doctors.
The review — obtained by the CBC — questions a decision to consolidate services for at-risk patients from five clinics around the city to the Raven Song Community Health Centre.
Scroll down to the bottom of this story for the full external review
Vancouver Coastal Health says the move is intended to better serve the five per cent of patients who are most in need. But the review, written in December 2013, says many of those who don't meet that criteria still need complex care.
“It is widely recognized that few private practices are accepting new patients and virtually none currently have the additional resources, staff and expertise to manage patients with complex and intertwined health and social needs,” says the external review.
Jason Proctor Reports
