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Physician hat trick for Chase Health Centre

Two physicians recently joined the Chase clinic, with a third scheduled to start in the summer.

SALMON ARM OBSERVER

Notices of multi-day closures of the Chase Health Centre have been a routine sight in newspapers and on websites in the past few months.

Interior Health Authority is hoping those become news of the past now that three doctors have been recruited to work in the lake community 45 minutes east of Kamloops.

Two physicians recently joined the Chase clinic, with a third scheduled to start in the summer.

"Our government has been hard at work to recruit physicians, particularly for rural areas," said Kamloops-North Thompson Liberal MLA Terry Lake, who is also parliamentary health secretary for health promotion.

"This is great news for the Village of Chase and Interior Health."

Doctors Janet and Ken Bates began seeing new patients on Monday, Feb. 14, while Dr. Sandeep Sharma is expected to join the clinic in July.

The Bates are returning to Canada from Oregon and have family ties in Kamloops.

The new physicians join current physician Dr. Mahadava Krishantha at the clinic.

The Chase Health Centre, clinic and daytime emergency department operate as a primary care facility operated by the IHA.

"Chase has so much to offer in terms of natural beauty, recreation and lifestyle," said Village of Chase Mayor Harry Danyluk. "We look forward to introducing these new physicians to the clinic and our wonderful community."

The Bates have experience in family practice, particularly in geriatrics and emergency medicine.

"We are both excited to be here and look forward to meeting the people of Chase," said Janet Bates.