Announcement: Welcoming Dr. Arvinder Kaul

Dr. Arvinder Kaul joined the Department of Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry Division on October 1, 2025 and will be providing psychiatric care at the Oceanside Health Centre in Parksville.

Dr. Arvinder Kaul is a Psychiatrist with over 25 years of clinical experience in the United States. She completed her residency in Psychiatry at the University Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, and has since practiced in both Mississippi and Washington State across hospital-based and community mental health settings. Her most recent role was in Skilled Nursing Facilities, where she specialized in the care of medically complex geriatric patients. She provided psychiatric leadership, supervised PMHNPs, conducted Gradual Dose Reduction reviews, and was actively involved in teaching—precepting nurse practitioners and mentoring medical students in clinical rotations.

Dr. Kaul recently relocated to British Columbia, Canada, to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. She expresses deep appreciation for the warm welcome she has received and is excited to continue serving the community with a compassionate, patient-centered approach to mental healthcare.

Do you have cancer patients who have ongoing nerve pain from their chemo?

We are currently recruiting eligible participants in Nanaimo and surrounding areas for a clinical study called METACIN. This 8-week study is looking at treatments for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) – usually this is burning, tingling pain in the hands, legs, or feet that can get in the way of a patient’s mobility and impair their quality of life.

We will be evaluating the safety and efficacy of methadone (intervention) in reducing nerve pain caused by CIPN in comparison to current treatment, duloxetine (control). This is a double-blinded, randomized study, with a 50% chance of receiving the investigational treatment. At the end of the study, participants will be informed of which medication they were taking and can continue after if they choose.

This study is funded by BC Cancer and by a KMPG-Island Health grant. Please see the attached poster for more detail. If you know of any patients that may be interested, please contact Dr. Mathieos Belayneh, Principal Investigator or our Site Investigators Dr. Jessica Otte and Dr. Kathryn King for more information.

Lead PI: Dr. Belayneh, METACIN@bccancer.bc.caSite Investigator: Dr. Jessica Otte, jessica.otte@islandhealth.caSite Investigator: Dr. Kathryn King, kathryn.king@islandhealth.ca

Medical imaging appointments now easier to manage with text and email notifications

ISLAND HEALTH-WIDE — Island Health is making it easier for patients to receive and confirm outpatient medical imaging appointment notifications.
Starting February 23 in the North and Central Island, and March 3 in the South Island, patients enrolled in the MyHealth patient portal will receive their appointment information by text and email instead of through an automated phone call.
Patients who are not registered for MyHealth will continue to receive notifications by telephone. If a patient can’t be reached by telephone after three attempts, the appointment request will be returned to their healthcare provider for follow-up.
MyHealth is a free, secure online portal that gives patients convenient, 24/7 access to their personal health information collected at Island Health facilities, from anywhere with an internet connection. To enroll in MyHealth, visit www.islandhealth.ca/myhealth

How the new system works:

Patients enrolled in MyHealth will get a text message notifying them of their appointment. Patients who have chosen to receive email notifications in their MyHealth account will also receive an email.
These notifications include:

• Hospital location and full address
• Type of exam (such as CT scan, ultrasound, or MRI)
• Date and time of appointment
• A link to confirm the appointment and view preparation instructions for the exam
• A phone number to call for cancelling, rescheduling, or questions

Notifications for BC Cancer breast screening appointments will continue to be sent by mail and will not be affected by this change.

Benefits of the new process:

The new system makes appointments easier to manage and information easier to access for MyHealth users who can:

• Confirm their appointment with one click
• Review appointment details anytime when they access their MyHealth account
• Access exam preparation instructions ahead of their appointment

Patients can prepare for this transition by:

• Registering for MyHealth
• Updating contact information including phone number and email address

Reminder: Island Health will never ask for passwords, banking details or payment information by text or email.

30% Non-Panel Limit: temporary exception ends March 31, 2026

The LFP Payment Model includes a 30% limit on clinic services provided to patients who are not on your panel or the panel of another physician at your LFP clinic.

On March 31, 2026, the temporary exception for physicians actively transitioning their services expires, and the Transition Code (98001) and Transition Form will no longer be available. On April 1, 2026, physicians must meet the 30% limit.

If over 30% of the patients you provide care to are not on your panel, you may need to make changes. Depending on your practice, this may mean:

• Attaching patients if you have capacity
• Reducing the amount of care provided to non-panel patients
• Moving to a different payment model that better supports care for non-panel patients

The exceptions for some rural communities, clinic-based pregnancy and newborn services, and complex contraception services will continue unchanged. You can reference section 36 of the payment schedule for complete details. 

Read the full update on the BC Family Doctors website (BC Family Doctor login required) for more details, including considerations when ending a physician-patient relationship.

LFP Billing Update: Updated LFP Payment Schedule: Effective February 23, 2026

LFP Payment Schedule Update: Effective February 23, 2026
In this update, we are providing information on:

• Updated LFP payment schedule
• Billing motor vehicle accident-related care under the LFP Payment Model
• Simplifying LFP time code billing
• 30% Non-Panel Limit: temporary exception ends March 31, 2026

Updated LFP Payment Schedule: Effective February 23, 2026
A new payment schedule has been released, effective February 23, 2026.
We recommend reviewing the updated LFP Payment Schedule in its entirety to ensure that you are billing accurately.
BC Family Doctors’ web resources, including the Simplified LFP Guide (BC Family Doctor login required), have been updated to reflect all of the changes in the payment schedule.

View the payment schedule here (Doctors of BC login required)

Pathways Webinar Invitation

Please join us for the next next Pathways provincial webinar.

Date: Thurs March 5th
Time: 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. PST

ALL Pathways users are invited to join us to explore new features and care pathways to streamline your workflow, including:

• Enhanced Care Pathways for Palliative Care, Hearing Loss, and Breastfeeding,
• New quick filter buttons to support navigation of Addiction Services,
• Message Feature for advice requests and service requests, and more.

Register Here

Optimizing technology in health care: How AI scribes are giving physicians time back in their day

Office efficiency tools are changing the game for family physicians looking to reduce the time they spend on administrative work. Read about how working with a practice support coach on office efficiency tools, including AI scribes, has given Dr Nancy Yao more time for both patients and family.

Read More Here.

Province-wide pilot initiative designed to enhance care for individuals living with spinal cord injury

The SCI Navigation Service (SCINav) is a new province-wide pilot designed to enhance care for individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI) across British Columbia.

Led by G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre and supported by the Rick Hansen Foundation and Spinal Cord Injury BC, SCINav  supports clinicians managing complex SCI-related care.

SCINav provides timely, virtual, just-in-time clinical consultation. The service aims to improve access to resources, strengthen transitions from inpatient rehabilitation to community living, and build SCI clinical capacity across the province.

The service launched in November 2025 and is currently available to clinicians only, with plans to expand access to patients and community members in Spring 2026.

For more information click here

Virtual focus group: Exploring Canadian healthcare workers’ perspectives on a national mental health strategy

Health care professionals are invited to participate in a doctoral research study exploring Canadian healthcare workers’ perspectives on a national mental health strategy. The study asks regulated health care professionals across Canada to identify key priorities and anticipated benefits of a national mental health strategy designed to support the health workforce.

This study has received ethics clearance through the University of Ottawa Research Ethics Board.

To participate, please complete the brief eligibility screening survey. You will receive an email shortly after completing the screening survey.

Complete the eligibility screening survey here

BC Family Doctors Billing Tools

As a family doctor, you need billing information that is current, practical, and easy to use during a busy clinic day. BC Family Doctors provides members with up-to-date billing tools, including simplified guides, searchable FAQs, practical resources, and expert support across LFP, Fee-for-Service, and uninsured services.

Learn more here

New Palliative Care Pathway

The Ridge Meadows Division has created a palliative care pathway to help users quickly find relevant palliative forms and services, which is now available for users across BC to find resources in their own community.

Access the palliative care pathway here

Mindfulness-based group care for life-limiting illness

A New Beginning Without End is an MSP-funded virtual group program for people living with terminal or life-limiting conditions such as metastatic cancer, end-stage organ failure, or ALS. This program offers a supportive space where participants discover they are not alone in their experience. 

Part 1: Four-week introductory course focused on mindfulness, emotional resilience, and connection.

Part 2: Eight-week program exploring grief, identity, meaning, self-compassion, and spiritual connection through facilitated group sessions and optional in-person retreat. There is no direct cost to patients.

Physicians or nurse-practitioners can refer patients by contacting info@SATACentre.com.

Oceanside Hospice Society

The Oceanside Hospice Society serves individuals and families experiencing end-of-life, care-giving and bereavement in the area stretching from Deep Bay to Nanoose, and west to Errington and Whiskey Creek
We strive to provide links in the continuum of care by supporting care giving at home, in hospital or the palliative care unit at Trillium and at community care facilities.
Please contact us at 250.752.6227 or visit www.oceansidehospice.com for further information.

Divisions Dispatch

The latest news from the provincial team and complementary organizations.

Please click here for updates including:

• LFP Payment Model updates
• Webinars and continuing medical education (CME)

Divisions in the News

Divisions in the News
See what is going on in other divisions around BC:

https://divisionsbc.ca/provincial/news-and-events