May 2023 – CKM Clinic Update
May 2023 Newsletter
The April showers have indeed brought up many May flowers! I hope that you are enjoying the sunshine (remember your sunscreen and hats!) and your own garden flowers. As many of you already know, I am involved with BC Family Doctors and will become President of the organization starting in June. This means I have more meetings which means some adjustment to my clinic hours and availability. Thanks for your flexibility and patience as I work with my colleagues and the Government to improve primary health care for all British Columbians.
Another way to improve our health is to gather data. Our local Peace Arch Hospital and Community Foundation utilizes this survey (link below) to understand our community’s health and well-being so that we can work on ways to improve and support it. Please consider taking a few moments to complete the Speak Survey. www.bccdc.ca/SpeakSurvey
CKM Clinic Updates:
In April, BC CDC ended the mask mandate in health care settings. Masks are no longer required to enter the clinic. We still have hand sanitizer and masks available for all patients who enter and would like to wear a mask. Please be kind to those who continue to choose to wear a mask.
Dr.Fung and Dr.Wilson are experiencing some delays in their clinic construction, so they will be based out of our office for the foreseeable future–likely until Fall 2023.
Please take note of the following days Dr.Ali will not be available in the month of May and June. As a reminder, Dr.Ali does require appointments for prescription refills, so please keep track of your medication refills. In the case where you are completely out of a prescription and are unable to make an appointment, please ask your pharmacist for an emergency refill until you can have an appointment.
Dr. Ali will be away May 29-June 5
We were unable to find physician coverage for the last week of May, so please make sure to book any necessary appointments before or after this week. If anything arises during this week, please proceed to a walk-in-clinic and inform the clinic to fax any notes to our office. Our office fax number is 604-385-0088. We will still have some office coverage this week, but we will not be open as consistently as we usually are. Please allow 1-2 business days for responses to messages before attempting to contact us again. Email messages will be the best method of contacting the clinic. Our email is md@catalystkinetics.com. Again, please DO NOT leave urgent voicemail messages as they may not be answered the same day.
CKM Staff Updates:
Dr.Guruge is continuing to provide some coverage for Dr.Ali when she is away. Dr.Guruge trained as a resident with Dr. Ali and is a personable and confident clinician. Dr. Ali encourages all of her patients to consider booking with him when she is not available to minimize any delays in care.
You can book an appointment with Dr.Guruge by phoning the clinic, emailing the clinic, or by selecting him as the practitioner on your My Health Access app. Please contact the office if you have any questions or concerns about this.
Updated Clinic Hours and Contact Information:
We have altered our clinic hours to the following
Monday 10:00 am – 5:00pm (Lunch from 1:00-2:00)
Tuesday 1:00pm – 5:00 pm (NEW)
Wednesday 9:30am – 1:00pm
Thursday 8:00am – 3:00pm (Lunch from 12:00-1:00)
Dr.Ali will be unavailable the following days:
May 29-June 5–Dr. Ali away
July 17- July 28- Dr.Ali away
August 7 – BC Day. Statutory holiday, clinic closed.