Taking Care of Each Other
Sorrento and Area Community Health Centre
By Celia Dyer
Our hearts go out to all our friends and neighbours who have suffered during this devastating summer. Our collective home has been changed forever. With the cooler, quieter season ahead, we look to heal and share compassion. Our community gathers to celebrate in happy times and now we gather around one another to offer support and care during this most difficult of times.
We have seen so many genuine acts of kindness manifesting in so many different ways. Children selling lemonade at the bottom of their driveway to help those who suffered loss. Our evacuation hosts, who took us in on that night we’ll never forget (though we were not in immediate danger, the sights and sounds of the fury shook us to the core). Our hosts, with their open arms, were a balm to our battered souls. Food being delivered to those in need. Local businesses not hesitating to provide much needed support.
The Shuswap Emergency Program providing a timely permit to enter our evacuated Health Centre so that we could organize virtual patient visits. Such a diversity of individuals and organizations who responded quickly and effectively, proving that this community will overcome the greatest of challenges to support one another.
The Health Centre was able to continue providing service due to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of our practitioners and staff. They didn’t miss a beat, even under an evacuation order. Dr. Ruth Brighouse had to spend her last day with us doing virtual visits with patients but we know they were well cared for, even under less than ideal circumstances.
Ruth has been with us for the past 10 months, helping out while our two NP’s were on maternity leave. She says she thoroughly enjoyed her time at the Sorrento clinic. “It was like an old-time country practice. I got to know the patients and there is a definite sense of community. People brought me eggs and I got to meet their new puppies.” She also commented on how impressed she was with the NP’s and how they treat their patients. “They are so thorough and really do take the time necessary to give quality medical care. Even as a doctor, I didn’t really understand the role of an NP. Now I realize what an important contribution they are making to primary care.”
We will miss Ruth’s cheerful presence in our clinic and we certainly wish her all the best on her next adventures. We are delighted to have both NP’s Theresa Walters and Lyndsay Lazzarotto practising again.
The Society is so proud of our ace NP’s; our local residents are so very fortunate to be in such good hands. We are all in good hands. It’s at times like these, when we stand up for one another, that our courage shines through.
