There are no neurologists working north of the Malahat on Vancouver Island and that makes it difficult for patients who need to consult with one.
There’s been a pilot project in Parksville over the last three years for patients with MS where they can meet with an MS nurse clinician and the two of them can consult with a neurologist in real time on line.
Now it’s moved to the hospital in Nanaimo with permanent funding from Island Health.
Victoria neurologist, Dr. Olinka Hrebicek says the MS patients say they find the service less onerous than having to regularly travel to Victoria……
There are about 800 MS patients living north of the Malahat who will be able to use the service, which Hrebicek says is treated just like an in-house appointment on her end.
