Trail Times – Sheri Regnier January 30 2025
Around 100 people gathered outside the Beaver Valley Clinic on Sunday to voice concerns and disappointment over the impending closure of the clinic’s medical laboratory collection services. (Submitted)
Beaver Valley residents are bracing for a significant shift in their healthcare access as Feb. 28 nears
Residents of Fruitvale and surrounding areas are bracing for a significant shift in their healthcare access when the Beaver Valley Clinic closes its lab services at the end of February.
For more than four decades, the clinic’s doctors have personally funded and operated the lab in accordance with accreditation standards, providing their Beaver Valley patients with convenient and accessible care.
However, new regulatory requirements introduced by the Diagnostic Accreditation Program (DAP) have made the service unsustainable for the rural clinic.
“It is with great regret that the Primary Care Practitioners at the Beaver Valley Medical Clinic are announcing the closure of the lab services that they have been providing to their patients for over 40 years,” the doctors stated.
“This closure is brought about by new accreditation requirements from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC through the Diagnostic Accreditation Program.”
The closure is expected to affect thousands of patients who rely on the clinic for blood work, including seniors, individuals with mobility challenges, and residents with limited transportation options.
These patients will now need to travel to neighbouring Interior Health labs or LifeLabs in Waneta Plaza, creating additional barriers to care.
The doctors acknowledged that many of their patients have limited access to transportation, and they recognize that travelling outside of Fruitvale for lab services will be difficult for these individuals.
“It is frustrating to us all to be losing this longstanding and valued service in our community,” the doctors stated.
“We are deeply saddened by the very real challenges this will cause for our valued patients.”
Administered by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, the DAP requires all labs in British Columbia to meet strict accreditation standards. These include implementing detailed policies, maintaining extensive documentation, and adhering to rigorous oversight processes.
Compliance with these standards has become increasingly burdensome, particularly for smaller, community-focused clinics.
Although the clinic receives minimal reimbursement from MSP for each blood draw, the financial burden has long been borne by the doctors and has become unsustainable over time.
This situation highlights a broader challenge facing rural healthcare providers across British Columbia.
Small clinics often operate on razor-thin margins, and the increasing demands of administrative compliance can stretch them beyond their capacity.
The clinic’s six doctors and one nurse practitioner were notified of the impending changes last fall.
Despite hopes for support or alternative solutions, none materialized.
“Our patients have enjoyed the convenience to have their blood drawn at the local clinic, which we feel has improved patient’s access to care as well as their quality of care,” the doctors shared.
“The decision to close the lab has been a very difficult decision for all of us.”
As the Feb. 28 closure date approaches, patients and staff are left grappling with the loss of a service that has been a cornerstone of the community for decades.
On Tuesday afternoon, Interior Health provided a statement to the Trail Times regarding lab collection sites in B.C.
“Lab collection sites in B.C. must be in compliance with provincial standards set by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Diagnostic Accreditation Program (DAP) — this includes Interior Health and collection sites at private clinics like the Beaver Valley Medical Clinic,” Interior Health explained.
“While these standards are not set by Interior Health and it was not an Interior Health decision to end the service in Beaver Valley, we appreciate that this change will impact local residents and this clinic.”
To prepare for the closure, patients of Beaver Valley Clinic are encouraged to contact one of three labs starting March 1:
• Trail Health Centre: open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Salmo Health Centre: open Tuesday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• LifeLabs Patient Care Centre in Trail mall: open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Digital self-booking is available for all three locations.
