Why Fraser Northwest
Becoming a member in the FNW Division was one of the simplest decisions I have ever made. Staying a member is a no-brainer. The Division truly supports its members. It works hard at fulfilling its mandate to establish a network of collaboration between family physicians and other healthcare partners, as well as encourage grassroots physician engagement and provides a voice for family physicians in healthcare policy decisions.
Our community-based practice (four associates) has had more help over the years than I ever would have expected or thought of asking for. This help has included HR advice, scanning of paper charts into our EMR, website design and implementation, associate recruitment efforts, development of community nurse support program for our frail home-bound patients, and working with the Health Authority to provide a full time RN for our office practice.
I have had the pleasure of serving as a Board member for the Division for the past 4 years. This has given me an even deeper understanding of all the work done on behalf of primary care reform, all with the goal of making our professional lives as family doctors better. We were in the first Wave of the provincial Primary Care Networks initiative and this has put us right out front as creators of change.
I have not been a member of any other Division because I have happily had my practice in New Westminster for 34 years.
- Dr. Kathy Jones, New Westminster
FNW is an amazing community to work in; the connection with other Family Physicians, the availability of services for my patients, and the collegiality of specialists is something I didn't find in communities I worked before.
I stay in FNW because of the support and advocacy from our local Division of Family Practice, and the connection they facilitate with my colleagues makes this community feel like home. When I face a problem in my practice, they are there to help.
FNW Division has been there for me so many times, helping with HR questions, getting set up with virtual visits and a website, connecting me with other practices that share common practice problems, and even facilitating projects to solve gaps in care for my patients. FNW is so responsive and active in making my work and life better.
- Dr. Nick Petropolis, New Westminster
I have been practicing in New Westminster since 1981, it's the only place I've ever practiced. I interviewed at a lot of different places, and New Westminster and TriCities was my comfort source. I really felt a sense of community, a sense of people who work together.
I also live locally - I raised a family here, the schools are good, the neighbourhoods are family-centred, and its a gorgeous location. We are very happy here and I'm so glad I chose the Fraser Northwest area to practice in.
- Dr. Linda Curtis, New Westminster
I feel lucky that I ended up practicing in this community. In terms of the physicians practicing here, there is a very inspiring aspect to how they approach their work and see their role as advocates in the system. They are so focused on making things better and making real changes in how we work.
On top of that, I have always found a connection with the patients I work with here, they remind me of the community I grew up in -very down to earth people, and appreciative of the care being provided to them.
- Dr. Paras Mehta, New Westminster
Having grown up in the Tri-Cities- Coquitlam, to be exact, it made sense to me that I would come back and practice in the community that gave so much to me and my family when we first moved to Canada in the 90's. As a family medicine and long-term care physician in Port Coquitlam, I am privileged to be able to provide primary care to some of the nicest people around. There is something special about taking care of children who attended the same elementary, middle and high school as me. From a medical standpoint, I enjoy the variety of pathology, and the cultural and socio- economic diversity that exists in this area. We are also lucky to be surrounded by supportive consultants, and emergency room physicians who I feel comfortable calling up and asking for advice whenever I need it. As a division member, I am very fortunate to have access to other members/colleagues, who I can reach out to for support and mentorship. Also, our wonderful division staff are some of the most caring and passionate people I have met, who are willing to go the extra mile to make sure that the providers are well looked after so that we can provide the best care possible to our patients. The Fraser- Northwest region- (New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam) is a fantastic place to live in, where nature is literally in your backyard, yet you have all the comforts, eateries and leisure opportunities of urban/ suburban living.
