Having been a patient at the Kootenay Lake Hospital Emergency Department a few times over the past few years, there is one particular issue I would like to point out.
Firstly I commend all the staff. The service I have received has been exemplary, the speed of attention great and the attention to the problem and the solutions have been detailed. It can get quite busy there and most of us understand triage, but patients still appear to be watched over even when it is hectic.
The one issue that I had brought to the Quality Control rep was privacy at the check-in desk in the waiting room. I had been seen for perhaps suturing but followed up with a letter of thanks to the staff and also mentioned the lack of privacy at the waiting room area check-in booths.
After my last visit two years later I see that nothing has been done. When a patient sits down and offers the B.C. medical card they are asked for the reason for the visit. Unfortunately this requires a full description of the medical reason for a visit even though the receptionist tries not to probe. So with few exceptions everyone in the waiting room hears the reason they are attending.
This is not the fault of the receptionists but it is something that is surely easy to correct with a little creativeness. I was assured when I brought the subject up two years ago that this area would be modified and the patients would have some privacy.
I believe a little design and a good carpenter could solve this in days and permit patients to keep their dignity during a painful or awkward encounter. I have copied this letter to Interior Health in the hope for some action.
Dr. John Dale
Nelson
