Lake Country clinic to take on 4,000 to 6,000 new patients

KELOWNA – At a time when family physicians could be placed on the endangered species list, a clinic in Lake Country is adding three family doctors at the end of summer.

Turtle Bay Medical Clinic announced Tuesday the new physicians will be on board in September.

“We opened our clinic in April with four doctors and have been actively recruiting ever since,” said Kiffer Walker, the general manager of Turtle Bay Medical Clinic. “It just so happens that they’re all coming at the same time.”

The clinic had a waiting list of 1,800 patients when they opened in April, according to Walker. Those patients have now gone through the registration process and are currently being booked appointments with the existing doctors.

The clinic is now looking to take on an additional 4,000 to 6,000 new patients says Walker.

“We’re placing priority on Lake Country residents who are currently without a family physician, but we’re willing to take patients from elsewhere as well,” Walker says. “From  Kelowna, to Vernon and other communities in the Okanagan, there are just not enough physicians to go around.”

In total, Walker says the clinic will have around 8,000 to 10,000 patients registered.

Those looking for a physician can stop by Turtle Bay Medical Clinic, located at 802-11850 Oceola Rd. to fill out an application form, or request one by e-mailing info@turtlebaymedical.ca.

“We’re willing to help people anyway we can, it just may be a bit of a drive.”

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