FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: What hours are you open?

A: We are open Monday to Fridays , 8:00 am - 5pm, closed on holidays.

Q: What is the phone number for the Health Unit?

A: Patients often call us to request the following phone numbers:

Vanderhoof Health Unit	(250) 567-6900
Vanderhoof Mental Health	(250) 567-6900
St. John Hospital (Main switchboard)	(250) 567-2211
St. John Hospital Lab	(250) 567-6240
St. John Hospital X-ray (Medical Imaging)	(250) 567-6223
St. John Hospital OR Bookings	(250) 567-6238
Stuart Nechako Manor	(250) 567-2013
U.H.N.B.C. (P.G.R.H.) Main Switchboard	(250) 565-2000

Q: What are the St. John hospital lab and x-ray department hours?

The St. John Hospital Lab is open from
Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

The St. John Hospital X-ray (Medical Imaging) department hours are:
Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Friday,
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Ultrasounds are booked Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Q: I have moved to Vanderhoof. How can I get a Family Physician?

A: At this time, none of the regular providers at the Clinic are able to accept new patients to their practices. However, patients who reside in Vanderhoof are still encouraged to register with the clinic. You will be placed on the “no family doctor” list for the time-being until we are able to recruit some new providers. Even if you do not have an assigned provider, you can access care at the office and we will offer you an appointment with a provider who has the next available appointment. There is a shortage of family doctors in many areas of BC and Vanderhoof is similarly affected. We are working jointly with Northern Health to attract and retain new providers to the community.

Patients can register with our office and are seen by the next available Physician, when Physicians are accepting new patients. If you are new to Omineca Medical Clinic, please come to the Clinic in person and present two pieces of identification with your current Vanderhoof mailing and residential address. We will register you in our system. We can only accept Vanderhoof residents at this time.

We will also have you complete a form to transfer any previous medical records from your former Family Physician for continuity of care. Please be advised that most medical offices charge a fee for this service and it is not covered by Medical Services Plan.

Q: I am just visiting Vanderhoof and need to see a Doctor. Can I be seen at the Clinic?

A: Yes, but only if you do not have a Family Physician in Fraser Lake, Fort St. James, Burns Lake or Prince George area. Please discuss your particular circumstances with our Reception staff for further clarification.

Q: Is there a "walk-in" clinic in Vanderhoof?

A: No, the Omineca Medical Clinic is not a walk-in clinic. Another option for patients who are having difficulty getting an appointment with a provider is to call the Northern Health Virtual Clinic. The Virtual Clinic works with your family doctor, nurse practitioner, and health care team to complement the care you receive in your community, or to provide support for those who don’t have a family doctor. The Virtual Clinic provides culturally safe care to patients who need medical help after hours and wish to speak to a heath care team member (doctor, nurse practitioner, or nurse) by phone or video.

Northern Health Virtual Clinic
Call 1-844-645-7811 - 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. daily (PST) including weekends and statutory holidays.

Don't call the Virtual Clinic phone line in an emergency. Instead, go to the emergency department or call 9-1-1 (or local emergency services in your community).

For general health information, go to the HealthLinkBC pages.

Q: I want to see a Vanderhoof Physician for a second opinion. What is the procedure?

A: We ask that you discuss this with your current Family Physician and obtain a referral to one of our Physicians who can provide the service that you require.

Q: I want to have my baby delivered by a Vanderhoof Physician at St. John Hospital. How do I arrange this?

A: Several of our Physicians accept maternity referrals for women wishing to give birth at St. John Hospital in Vanderhoof. Patients who see Physicians in Fort St. James, Fraser Lake, and Burns Lake should discuss being referred to a Vanderhoof Physician if they wish to deliver at St. John Hospital.

Q: Why can’t I get an appointment with my Family Physician?

A: We understand that patients often feel frustrated when an appointment with their Family Physician is not readily available. There are a number of reasons that your Physician may not be available when you need to see them.

In rural communities such as Vanderhoof, most Physicians also work in the hospital in various capacities. For example, many provide care to patients being seen in the Emergency department, the Operating room, the Labour and Delivery suite, or those who have been admitted to the hospital. Other Physicians see patients in Oncology, at Mental Health, and in residential care at Stuart Nechako Manor. In short, the Physicians have busy schedules that include work in other locations besides Omineca Medical Clinic.

At other times, your Physician may be away on personal or professional leave. They, too, need time away from work to rest and “recharge their batteries.” All Physicians are also required to spend time on professional development and continuous learning activities each year.

We always set aside a number of “same day” appointments for patients who need to be seen on an urgent basis. Please be advised that you will not necessarily see your own Family Physician for these same day appointments. We try to have Physician schedules in the system at least 4 weeks in advance. Patients wishing to book an appointment beyond that time frame can have their name placed on an appointment waiting list and our staff will contact you to book an appointment when the Physician’s schedule has been confirmed. Wait times for the next available regular appointment with Physicians can fluctuate from month to month but we will try our best to arrange an appointment for you in a timely fashion.

Q: Do you keep a “call back” or cancellation list for appointments that become available during the day?

A: No. As a rule, we do not call back patients who are looking for appointments that have become available due to cancellations. With the number of Physicians working and the number of appointments available each day, this would be time-consuming for our staff. However, patients are more than welcome to call the office several times if they are looking for appointments that may become available on short notice.

Q: Do you give reminder phone calls for upcoming appointments?

A: No, not at this time. Unfortunately, our automated appointment reminder system stopped working and we do not have a replacement for it at this time. We are looking into alternatives but in the meantime, patients will have to take responsibility for remembering appointments.