Community InformationThe quiet community of Creston is located south of Kootenay Lake in the heart of the Rockies region in southeast BC. Known as the “Valley of the Swans”, the Creston Valley is a breathtaking combination of snow-capped mountain peaks, fields of grain, deep clear lakes and wide-open spaces.
Although primarily an agricultural centre, with a focus on fruit production, the community’s economy is also dependent upon forestry, manufacturing, mining and tourism.
Blessed with a temperate climate and situated amidst mountains, rivers, lakes and wildlife, Creston offers visitors and residents alike a wide range of outdoor recreational opportunities including golf, hiking, biking, fishing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
The Creston Valley has a temperate climate with warm, sunny summers and generally mild winters. The average summer and winter temperatures are 19 degrees Celsius and -3 degrees Celsius respectively. In an average year, Creston receives 45.4 cm of rain and 140 cm of snowfall.
INDUSTRY:
Agriculture with emphasis on fruit productionPopulation
Town Population: 5,306 (BC Stats, 2011 Census) Patient Catchment: 15,000 Ages of Population 0-17: 18.9% 18-24: 9.3% 25-64: 47.6% 65+: 24.1% (BC Stats, 2010 Figures)
Health Administrative Information
Health Authority: Interior Health Health Service Delivery Area: East Kootenay Regional District: East Kootenay Rural Designation: RSA community RRP Designation: A RRP Points: 23.80
Practitioners + Clinic information
General Practitioners: 19 (www.cpsbc.ca) Clinics Family Practice Associates Medical Clinic Box 2010, 223 - 16th Avenue North Creston, BC, V0B 1G9 P: 250 428-9371 Dr. Daile Hoffman Family Practice Box 220, 120 - 12th Avenue South Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-5381 | F: 250 428-5384 Dr. Tara Guthrie Box 969, 319 - 15th Avenue North Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-8873 | F: 250 428-3346 Osprey Medical Offices Ltd. RR#6, 1000 North Boulevard Creston, BC, V0B 1G6 P: 250 428-7171 Mid-Life Services (Options for Sexual Health Clinic) 312 - 15th Avenue N Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-2286 Summit Medical Clinic 319 - 15 Ave N Creston, BC V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-8873
2012 socio-economic profile of Creston (Source: BC Government).
The Creston Valley Hospital is a local, full-service hospital with acute care and extended care services, including an intensive care room, pediatric room and maternity wing and cardiac telemetry unit.
Contact Info
Creston Valley Hospital Bag 3000, 312 – 15th Avenue Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-2286 | : 250 428-4860
Hospital Info
Acute Care Beds: 18
Extended Care Beds: 20
Intensive Care Unit Beds: 1
Pediatric room
Maternity wing
Full service lab
Imaging services
Enhanced Skill Surgeons
cardiac telemetry unit
endoscopy
public health services
home care nursing
mental health services
Two regional hospitals, Cranbrook and Trail, are within 90 minutes of Creston and offer the next level of care, including specialists, MRI and CT services.
Emergency Room
This community has a limited service Emergency Room with thrombolization service. It is open 24/7 and has 16-20 beds.
Number of Visits per Year: 14,775 (2009/2010: IHA Stats)
Travel Distance to a Transfer Hospital: 426 km to Kelowna
Hospital CAEP and CTAS
CAEP Classification
Description Level 4 – Facility with inpatient beds. May be optional services i.e. obstetrics, definitive for appropriate conditions, stabilization and transfer to another facility as required, open 24/7
CTAS Level CTAS Level I (Resuscitation) CTAS Level II (Emergent) CTAS Level III (Urgent) CTAS Level IV (Less Urgent) CTAS Level V (Non Urgent)
Anaesthetics
There are anaesthesia services in this community.
Surgery
There are surgical services in this community, including minor and orthopedic procedures.
Maternity
There are Caesarian section services in this community. Midwifery Creston Valley Midwives #11, 233 - 16th Avenue North Creston, BC, V0B 1S0 P: 250 428-3032 | F: 250 227-9202 Bountifull Midwifery Care 1190A Lyons Road Creston, BC, V0B 1G2 P: 250 402-3662
Lab services
Creston Valley Hospital Laboratory Bag 3000, 312 - 15th Avenue North Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-2286 | F: 250 428-4860 Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 2:45 pm (not including statutory holidays)Blood Bank
There is a blood bank in this community.
Imaging services
X-Ray Creston Valley Hospital Diagnostics Bag 3000, 312 - 15th Avenue North Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-2286 | F: 250 428-4860 Hrs: Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4 pm Ultrasound There are ultrasound services in this community. MRI There are MRI services in this community, including mobile MRI. Mammography Mammography services provided by BC Cancer Agency twice a year. See www.bccancer.bc.ca for details.
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BC Ambulance
BC Ambulance Service provides coverage for this community, including Air Ambulance service.
Pharmacy
Drugstory Pharmacy #8573 Box 850, 1501 Cook Street Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 402-6025 | F: 250 402-6029 Overwaitea Pharmacy # 16 RR#6, 3 - 1000 Northwest Boulevard Creston, BC, V0B 1G6 P: 250 428-0030 | F: 250 428-9120 Pharmasave #282 1118 Canyon Street Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-9080 | F: 250 428-9082 Shoppers Drug Mart #2284 Box 939, 1030 Canyon Street Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-9334 | F: 250 428-9304
Extended Care
Swan Valley Lodge (90 Beds) 818 Vancouver Street Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-2283 Crest View Care Village (74 Beds) 800 Cavell Street Creston, BC, V0B 1G4 P: 250 428-9986 | F: 250 428-2103
Home Nursing
Prenatal Home Visits Creston Valley Hospital Bag 3000, 312 - 15th Avenue North Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-3873 Home Care Support Program Creston Valley Hospital Bag 3000, 312 - 15th Avenue North Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-5616 | F: 250 428-3865 In-community Home & Community Care Office P: 250 428-3600
Diabetic Nurse Educator
Creston Valley Hospital Diabetic Unit Bag 3000, 312 - 15th Avenue North Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-2286 | F: 250 428-4860 Hrs: Weds-Thurs 8 am - 4 pm In-community Canadian Diabetes Association Box 724 Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-2168 | TF: 1 800 268-4656 www.diabetes.ca
Physiotherapy
Joanne Gailius Physiotherapy Box 784, Suite #5, 223 - 16th Avenue North Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-8424 | F: 250 402-2054 Creston PhysioWorks and More Suite A, 312 - 19th Avenue North Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-8962 | F: 250 428-8968
Occupational therapy
Adaptations for Independence 2416 Juniper Street Creston, BC, V0B 1G5 P: 250 402-9848 | F: 250 428-0645
Mental Health and Addictions
Three Voices of Healing Society 3246 Riverview Road Creston, BC, V0B 1G2 P: 250 428-5516 | F: 250 428-5235 East Kootenay Addiction Services Society Bag 187, 223 - 16th Avenue North Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-5547 | F: 250 428-5175 IH Alcohol/Drug Services 138 - 10th Avenue North Creston, BC, V0B 1G4 P: 250 428-3553 Mental Health Centre 312 - 15th Avenue North Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-8734 Hrs: Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Central Valley Counselling 814 Ibbitson Street Creston, BC, V0B 1G4 P: 250 254-9797 | TFP: 1 877 899-9797 | F: 250 428-8838Social workers
Interior Health Authority Creston Valley Hospital Bag 3000, 312 - 15th Avenue North Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-3873 | F: 250 428-3880
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AIDS Network Outreach & Support Society 205 - 14th Avenue North Cranbrook, BC, V1C 3W3 P: 250 426-3383 | TFP: 1 800 421-2437 Community Respiratory Program - Travelling Clinic Provided by Interior Health P: 250 420-2297 Baby Steps Pregnancy Outreach Program 617 - 11th Avenue South Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-7048 | TFF: 1 866 390-2029 The Canadian Diabetes Association Creston & District Branch 1589 Sutherland Avenue Kelowna, BC, V1Y 5Y7 P: 250 762-9447 www.diabetes.ca Kootenai Community Centre Society Violence Against Women Counseling Services 1508 Cook Street Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 402-0068 www.crestonbc.com/kccs/ East Kootenay Addiction Services Reconnect Program 223 16 Avenue N Creston, BC, V0B 1G0 P: 250 428-5547 Kootenai Community Centre Society 4334 Canyon-Lister Road Creston, BC, V0B 1C0 P: 250 402-0068 Elderly Services 243 16th Avenue N Creston, BC, V0B 1G5 P: 250 428-8734
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Practice Site Information
Family Practice Associates Box 2010, 223 - 16th Avenue North Creston, BC, V0B 1G9 P: 250 428-9371 | F: 250 428-9350 Physician Site Coordinator Dr John Griffioen Office Administrator Denise Moman Specialists Psychiatry and Surgery Specialists Practice Profile The clinic is situated 1200 meters from the hospital and there is a lab in the office. Call is 1:5 and 24 hours starting at 0800. One weekday per week and two weekend days per month. Residents have to be within 15 minutes from the hospital when on call. Hospital rounds are from 0800 - 0900, clinic is from 0900 - 1630 including a one hour lunch at 1200, then review patients with preceptor from 1630 - 1700. Residents start with 3 patients, then gradually increase up to 6 patients an hour. Teaching rounds are on Tuesdays from 1215 - 1315 in the hospital and residents will be expected to make an informal presentation every 2nd Tuesday. On-Call Schedule Call is 1:5 and 24 hours starting at 0800. Office Hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Training Site Information
Family Practice Resident Site: Yes Medical Resident: UBC Other Professionals: Imaging and Laboratory Service Professionals Mental Health Workers Physiotherapy
Students & Residents Perspectives
On the Community Very friendly medical community. On the Experience You have your own office and exam rooms, and so have the opportunity to develop relationships with patients and see what continuity of care is really like. Excellent clinic experience. Creston also has a busy ER so there are lots of opportunities for learning. Challenges Difficult to get OB there (may have just been due to the time that I was in Creston)
Patient Economics
% low: 20% % medium: 60% % high: 20%
Patient Load
Practice per Day: 150 per day Physician per Day: 30 Resident per Day: 16 - 20
Office Set-up
Personnel in Office: Hospital, Contract, RN, RD, RNA, Pharm, DT Community contract, DHN, MHW
Does your office have a surgical suite? No
Payment Modality: Fee-for-service and Sessional
Do you use a consistent charting system in your practice? Yes
Is there a problem list on each chart? Yes
Is there space for the resident to have an office an an examination room? Yes
Would you expect the resident to rotate offices on a regular basis? No
Technology:
Billing
Internet
Medline
Healthnet in town
Electronic Medical Records
Educational Opportunities
Hospital Rounds: Yes, daily. Hospital rounds are from 0800 - 0900
CME Teleconferences: No
Conferences: Yes, there are opportunities for conferences.
Journal Clubs/Reading: Yes, there are opportunities for journal clubs/reading.
Computer-based: Yes, there are opportunities for computer-based education.
CCFP Small Group Learning: No
Small Group Learning: No
What other educational opportunities are available to your students and residents (e.g., rounds, CPD)?
McMaster SGPBL
Preceptor Physicians
Dr. Crystal Campbell
Dr. Erin Ewing
Dr. John Griffioen
Dr. Kriegler leRoux (Anesthesia)
Dr. Atma Persad
Dr. Karen Persad (Obstetrics)
Dr. Tim Troughton
Dr. Andrew WeaverTeaching Disciplines
Mental Health
