An untapped resource is ready and available here in the Comox Valley,able to respond to medical emergencies in the event of disaster.

Throughout the region there are approximately 100 physicians and specialists of which a substantial and increasing number do not carry privileges to perform duties at St. Joseph’s General Hospital. Physicians not attached to the hospital, however, provide essential treatment and care within the Valley’s medical clinics. Should a state of emergency be declared, in essence they become a necessary resource to the community.

As a physician belonging to the Comox Valley Division of Family Practice, Dr. Alfredo Tura recognized that the Valley’s physicians and the clinics in which they work are a valuable resource that residents ought to turn to for medical assistance for non life-threatening injuries.

Tura explains that medical clinics such as the one where he is employed can offset the influx of emergency calls that have the potential to render the hospital overwhelmed and operating at or over capacity. During a disaster, these clinics should be the first and perhaps only location for the walking wounded.

Determining how these clinics could effectively be turned into satellite emergency stations was key. Dr. Tura referred to two leading experts in the field of emergency planning and execution, Mike Fournier Comox Valley Emergency Planning Coordinator and John Wong, a retired senior US Army Corps of Engineers service member with extensive experience liaising with municipalities in response to a hurricane.

To promote community and hospital physician engagement, Tura also collaborated with Dr. Charmaine Enns, Chief Medical Health Officer for Island Health and Barbara Marych, Manager of Access and Flow at St. Joseph’s General Hospital, to ensure that outside the hospital, there would be community-based medical response team available to tap into.

Tura’s role was pivotal in piecing together a myriad of interagency responsibilities. As a member of the RCMP auxiliary, he regularly attended meetings with the Emergency Planning Committee, liaising with representatives from all facets within the community responsible for emergency preparedness – policing, firefighting, paramedics, and the Canadian Armed Forces.

It’s now been a year and a half since the initiative was first conceived and in that time Tura, with guidance and liaison assistance from Wong and knowledge and expertise from Fournier, has steadily led in the development of Disaster First Aid Stations (DFAS).

Today, five medical clinics have been identified as a DFAS – the Comox Medical Clinic, Highland Family Practice, Crown Isle Medical Clinic, Valley Care, and Southwood Medical Clinic. Pharmacies closely located to the clinic are also engaged.

With the DFAS plan ready to launch, this will be the first initiative of its kind on Vancouver Island and is already garnering attention from other jurisdictions. Recently, the Health Emergency Program BC (HEMBC) has started a somewhat conceptual parallel protocol and contacted the Comox Valley Division to collaborate.

Equipped with trained physicians and nurses, medical supplies and medication, these clinics are suitably established to provide triage, first aid, minor emergency procedures, and urgent primary care including acute pain management and stabilization of fragile chronic conditions such as Insulin dependent diabetes.

Each clinic is strategically located in accessible areas throughout the Valley and can operate independent of each other, using medical staff from any of the other five clinics if the situation dictates it necessary and feasible to do so.

Tura continues to chair an emergency preparedness committee for the Division with support from fellow division members Dr. Peter Moosbrugger and Dr. Daniela Chifor.

Fournier has been instrumental throughout the process sharing his vast knowledge and experience, and fostering commitment from other key responding agencies that will enable these clinics to function in a time of disaster.

“Mr. Fournier was very receptive to the DFAS innovative idea and supported it from the very beginning,” expressed Tura. “He envisioned the long term value of this initiative and provided us with basic training, sound advice and solid resources.”

Should disaster strike, upon the declaration of a state of emergency, namely an earthquake, one, some or all five DFAS will become active. Once active, the DFAS’ primary focus is on increasing patient treatment capacity and reducing the distance between residents and medical care. Patients will be able to identify where and when a clinic has turned into a station by the distinct and visible logo displayed in the window and on signage erected outside the station.

Tura adds that any or all of the DFAS could be activated and effective immediately, however, the committee will continue to meet regularly with other agencies involved including RCMP and the paramedics who support his initiative and are keen to see it integrate successfully into the Comox Valley Emergency Plan.

Mary Lee
Owner/Director
MGG Communications & Consulting Inc.
250-792-3428
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