Medical Staff News
News
Celebrating 10 years of the PRA-BC Program
Since 2015, the Practice Ready Assessment - British Columbia program has assessed 363 family physicians in 78 communities across the province. Island Health is proud to be part of this program and serving our communities across the region. Read the full December 2025 Newsletter!
Save the date! Join Island Health’s Ethics Week 2025: December 9-12
Island Health’s Ethics Week is just around the corner running December 9-12 and you’re invited to join a series of thought-provoking learning sessions focused on real ethical challenges across our healthcare system.
BC Virtual Visit: New Video Interpreting for Sign Language & Expanded Languages
Starting December 3, we are excited to announce access to video interpreting for American Sign Language (ASL) and an expanding list of spoken languages will be embedded directly within BC Virtual Visit – an addition to the audio-only interpreting service that has been available in BC Virtual Visit since June of this year.
Process updated to refer all pregnant clients to public health nursing services
Island Health’s Right From The Start program is making it easier for physicians to refer pregnant clients with Public Health Nursing services that complement primary care. Now, registration for physicians and clients is completely online, at islandhealth.ca/pregnancy, and the form is shorter, making it quicker for people to sign up.
Facilities Bargaining Association and Health Employers Association of BC Reach Tentative Agreement
The Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) has reached a tentative agreement with members of the Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA)
Community Bargaining Association Strike Vote Results
The Community Bargaining Association (CBA) announced on November 27, 2025 that their members have voted 92.3 per cent in favour of a strike mandate in support of their negotiations for a renewed collective agreement.
New Medical Leader Training: Psychologically Safe Health Care Teams Workshop
Island Health is excited to host Dr. Tom Lloyd and Dr. Dawn Martin for a new virtual learning workshop. The workshop aims to equip new medical leaders with the skills to promote and encourage psychologically safe environments in the workplace.
Electronic Health Record (EHR) Requests: New Central Intake
We are excited to announce the launch of a new centralized intake process for all electronic health record (EHR) requests. This streamlined approach will simplify and centralize submissions, enhance tracking and strengthen governance to ensure requests are managed efficiently and consistently.
Save the Date! Medical Staff Forum, Thurs Nov 27
Agenda items include: Medical Leadership Restructure, Medical Staff Rules, Public Health Update and a Q&A.
Guidance for the 2025/26 Respiratory Illness Season
With transmission of respiratory illnesses such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and cold viruses beginning to increase this fall, we are sending a reminder about the importance of infection prevention and control (IPAC) guidance for health-care facilities during viral respiratory illness (VRI) season.