Family doctors celebrate launch of website designed for Pacific Northwest BC communities

Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice launches FETCH BC website to connect residents to local health and community services.

TERRACE, BC, May 3, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, the Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice officially launched a new website designed specifically for the communities of Northwest BC.  The Pacific Northwest FETCH (For Everything that is Community Health) site is an online, searchable comprehensive database of health, community programs and local supportive organizations.  The Pacific Northwest FETCH site is the first of it kind in the province to include an interactive map right on the front page that allows residents to search for programs available in their community as well as across the region which spans roughly one quarter of the Province of BC.  The Pacific Northwest FETCH website of local community programs continues to be updated; new programs are being added every day. 

The Pacific Northwest FETCH site was created after local family physicians identified that many of their patients were uncertain which programs they could access in their community. 

"The number of programs available in our communities is remarkable and we hope this website will allow residents to be able to connect more easily to local resources and supports that will be helpful to them and their families," said Dr. Geoff Appleton, physician lead, Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice.

The site was designed specifically for the communities of the Pacific Northwest in mind and its purpose is to support the people who live in this region.

"It was important to our member physicians that FETCH reflect the unique geographic and support elements of each community," explained Colleen Enns, Executive Director, Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice,

Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice is working hard to make the site as comprehensive as possible and is asking the region to help make it a success.  Residents are invited to provide feedback on the site and suggest improvements.  A contest is underway for Pacific Northwest residents to provide ideas on how to make the Pacific Northwest FETCH site even better.  The best improvement idea, as voted by the Pacific Northwest Board of Directors, will receive an iPad mini.

The site can be found at:

http://pacificnorthwest.fetchbc.ca/

A link to the contest can be found at:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WHS86CT

About Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice:

The Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice represents family physicians in Dease Lake, Haida Gwaii (Charlotte City and Masset), Houston, Kitimat, New Aiyansh, Prince Rupert, Smithers, Stewart, and Terrace.  Together, the members work to improve patient access to local primary care, increase local physicians' influence on health care delivery and policy, and provide professional support for physicians.

SOURCE Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice

Media enquires may be directed to: Colleen Enns, Executive Director, Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice, Phone: [phone], email: [email protected]