Current Projects

Project / Date	Physician Lead	Description
5th June, 2023 xxxxx DEI	xxxx	xxxxxx
5th June, 2023 23/146 Violence Prevention Training	Dr. Susan Benzer	This pilot Violence Prevention Training provides medical staff in high-risk areas with the knowledge, strategies, and skills to support the prevention and de-escalation of potentially violent situations in the workplace. This program was co-developed between Kootenay Boundary Physicians Association and Safety, Wellbeing, Innovation, Training & Collaboration in Healthcare (SWITCH BC) and was planned to achieve scientific integrity, objectivity, and balance. Thank you to our partners Interior Health, Accredited by UBC & CPD, KBPA/FE, Doctors of BC, Switch BC, Dr. Sue Benzer
4th March, 2023 22/144 KBPA Sugar Shack Social	Dr. Ian Sibbald	Attended by 35 physicians and their families, this year the annual social was held at a Black Jack Cross Country Club in Rossland. A fun interactive event called Cabanes à Sucre or Sugar Shack. A traditional taste of sweet maple sap, boiled to taffy and then poured into the snow and rolled onto a small wooden stick to make a lollipop of maple syrup taffy – tastes so good! Physicians and their families were encouraged to go for a cross-country ski whilst the maple syrup boiled for 2 hours. Hot chocolate and hot apple cider were available whilst everybody stood around rolling taffy. Lots of fun for the physicians and their families.
28th November, 2022 22/ KBRH Staff Appreciation Day	Dr. Ian Sibbald	In appreciation for everything KBRH IH staff and physicians do, the KBPA paid for all-day tea and coffee at our in-house KBRH cafe – the Alpine Grind. This time, as it was the judging of our KBRH Pumpkin Carving Contest, we had a featured drink called the “Pumpkin Spice Latte”. The Staff Appreciation Day is always a very special day at KBRH.
28th November, 2022 22/117 KBRH Pumpkin Carving Contest	Dr. Sue Babensee	The most creative Pumpkin Carving Contest to date, 19 entries. It was spooktacular. Great Story: Lionel, Brian, Brenna and Katie ICC Alumni – sent their pumpkin entry in by post called The Nomad – unfortunately it did not make it in time but they sent a photo and we had it printed for the judging.
3rd October, 2022 22/113 EDI Committee Event	Dr. Tara Gill, Dr. Carolyn Stark, Dr. LeeAnne Laverty, Dr. Anne Dobson, Dr. Hilary Brotherhood, Dr. Lisa Vasil	An evening with the President of BC Dr. Ramneek Dosanjh on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. 65 Regional physicians attended a dinner at the Josie Video of the event including Dr. LeeAnne Laverty’s presentation is in Dine & Learn’s section (bottom of the page) Oct 3, 2022 -Dr. Ramneek Dosanjh https://divisionsbc.ca/kootenay-boundary/cpd-recordings.
23rd September, 2022 22/118 KBPA Annual General Meeting	Dr. Ian Sibbald	We welcomed a new President; Dr. Kathryn Hale and 2 new board members Dr. Sasha Cihal & Dr. Brian Garrett to the board of the KBPA. Over 40 physicians plus partners joined the annual meeting.
21/22nd June, 2022 22/114 KB Regional Oncology Launch	Dr. Nattana Dixon-Warren & Dr. Kate Forman	After approx. 40 years Dr. Len Scotland has retired and the KB region had to come up with a new way to deliver patient care for Oncology in Kootenay Boundary. On 21/2nd June 2022 Drs. Halperin and Ellard from BCC’s Kelowna toured and met the COS + GPS\O’s + Medical Staff from the 3 boundary hospitals; Boundary Hospital Grand Forks, Kootenay Lake Hospital Nelson and Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital Trail to build partnerships and to disseminate information between BC Cancer, Hematology, Kelowna, KB GPO’s, local KB Physicians and Family Physicians about the new KB Oncology Process. On the evening of the 21st June, Dr. Ross Halperin delivered a presentation called Radiology Oncology Emergencies and Dr. Sue Ellard delivered her presentation Harnessing Immunotherapy for Cancer to 35 KBRH & KLH physicians at Gabriellas in Rossland. Regional physicians also attended the event via zoom. Funded by REAP funding, Divisions, KBPA & CME.
11 and 17th June, 2022 22/103 KBRH Professional Headshots	Dr. Carolyn Stark	45 KBRH physicians had their professional headshots taken by a professional photographer accompanied by a make-up artist. Each physician was given a high-quality, professional-grade headshot a web & printed version. The headshots are extremely helpful in showcasing our Physicians for recruitment and other related purposes. To date, the headshots have been used in marketing materials, social media, websites, zoom meetings/online platforms and professional use by the physicians.
8th June, 2022 22/106 IM-ICU-GIM Group Dinner	Dr. John Peachell	Inter-departmental conversation between IM-ICU-GIM group. Hospitalist, ICU and IM physicians came together to discuss; How can we improve patient flow and continuity of care for the patient discharged from the ICU to the ward? Several breakthroughs were identified and agreed on the process was reached, mostly through furthering the understanding of each department’s workflow, and how to best communicate between departments. Working dinner at Gabriella’s.
12th May, 2022 22/112 Hospitalist & Lower Columbia GP Group	Dr. Stefanie Houde & Dr. Mike Scully	The evening was a combination of team building between all PCP’s, scoping the interest of ongoing similar meetings, ideas of solutions for primary care and sharing with decision makers some of our key values and challenges in our region. Approx 30 GPs & Specialty Physicians attended the working dinner at Redstone Golf Course.
10th March, 2022 22/101 Reducing Overwhelm in Parenting for Physician Workshop	Dr. Hilary Brotherhood	Reducing Overwhelm in Parenting for Physicians l A parenting presentation for physicians (parents and their co-parents) with children 18 months to 7 years old. Presented by Myla Leinweber B.Ed, M.Ed, PCI Certified Parent Coach and Parent Educator via Zoom sponsored by CME and KBPA. 21 Physicians signed up for the event. Plus we have a follow-up session in April.
6th March, 2022 22/111 Hot Chocolate Apres Ski Social	Dr. Ian Sibbald	Hot Chocolate Apres Ski Social at the base of Red Resort. Physicians and their families enjoyed an afternoon of Hot Chocolate, poutine and coffee. Games and art were available for the kids, and good old fashion face-to-face talking was enjoyed by the adults!
Started March, 2022 22/105 ICU Clinical Associate Project	Dr. Nick Leinweber	The intent of the CA program is to create a more sustainable schedule/ physician staffing model through the use of CA’s at KBRH ICU that lessens the burden on ICU physician staff and aids in the prevention of physician burnout, and, most importantly, ensures our patients have received the highest quality of care from rested and supported critical care physicians.
Approved March, 2022 Awaiting relocation to new Physicians Lounge in June 2022 22/102 Physicians Health Lounge	Dr. Carolyn Stark	A place for Physicians to connect that offers sound nutritional food and drink, particularly after hours and on weekends is currently a gap at KBRH. This project aims to enhance Physician Wellness at KBRH, by creating a comfortable space to collaborate with colleagues from different disciplines and simultaneously offering nourishment. This space will be well utilized by the Monday to-Friday crowd, but also for those Physicians working overnight and on weekends when food and drink are extremely limited in-house.
Approved March, 2022 Scheduled June 10th/17th 22/103 KBRH Physician Professional Headshot	Dr. Carolyn Stark	The aim of this project is to provide all KBRH Physicians with a headshot that can be utilized from a professional standpoint. As physicians, we are often called upon to provide pictures for various professional and educational purposes, and having a high-grade photograph available as an entire physician collective will be of great use. Most physicians have old outdated headshot photographs, and every physician needs an updated headshot that showcases the professionalism of the physician.
25th February, 2022 22/113 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) What does EDI at KBRH look like?	Dr. Tara Gill	A group of 6 KBRH physicians started the discussion, drafted out a project proposal to form a committee with the next steps on this important subject and now are awaiting approval from the Working Group.
24th February, 2022 22/109 Heeding the Call – An Educational Cultural Sensitivity Presentation	Dr. Sue Babensee	Heeding the Call – An Educational Cultural Sensitivity Presentation, Dinner and Discussion with Dr. Leah Seaman, Family Medicine Expert, Christy Anderson, Aboriginal Health Liaison and COINS Elder held at the Prestige in Rossland. The presentation offered a case study to discuss an introduction to some valuable resources developed in the Kootenay Boundary to support the delivery of culturally safe care. 20 KBPA Physicians attended.
11th and 17th February, 2022 22/104 Recruitment and Retention in Kootenay Boundary	Dr. Tara Gill and Dr. Megan Taylor	Two focus groups with Med Students and Residents were held to brainstorm eecruitment and Retention in Kootenay Boundary. KBDoctors Recruitment and retention of General Practitioners and Specialist physicians to rural locations is essential for the health and well-being of our communities. Significant investments are made by both the Health Authority and local initiatives (Facility Engagement, Divisions, Municipalities etc.) As a representative sample of new physicians interested in rural medicine, we seek insights on how best to attract talented physicians to this beautiful area.