The Phoenix Clinic
200-197 Second Ave. North V2G 1Z5 Williams Lake, BC, Canada

Dear patients & friends, The office will be closed today, November 6th, due to illness. I will attempt to be back in the office on Monday, and will respond to all messages and voicemail then. I apologize for the inconvenience. ... Stay safe, - Rachel, MOA

Dear patients and friends, I will be out of the office today, September 29, due to illness. I will hopefully be back tomorrow. Any messages left for me will be returned then. I apologize for the inconvenience. ... - Rachel, MOA

Dear patients & friends, Dr. Steyl will be out of the office for a short break from Monday, August 10th, until Tuesday, August 18th. Dr. Keith was nice enough to fill in for two of those days; Tuesday, August 11th, and Wednesday, August 12th. As Dr. Keith's hours will vary from Dr. Steyl's, please make sure to call sooner rather than later if you need an appointment, to secure your desired time. ... Stay safe, enjoy the sunshine. - Rachel, MOA

Dear patients & friends, This is just to let you all know that for the next month, Dr. Steyl will only be in the clinic two days a week. She is currently covering for one of the ER physicians, who had an unfortunate accident which resulted in a broken leg. This means that wait time for appointments will be quite a bite longer than normal and I apologize for this inconvenience; I am doing my best to get everyone in as soon as I am able with what I have available. For patient...s unable to wait until the appointment time that they're given, there are walk-in clinics in both Quesnel and 100 Mile House that are open, as well as the emergency department at Cariboo Memorial Hospital. Pharmacies are also able to provide emergency refills of some medications, but this is up to the discretion of your pharmacist and the medication in question. Telus Health has also started an app, which is available for both Apple and Android devices, called Babylon, which will allow you to have a virtual visit with a GP for any non-urgent concerns. Make sure to check the Apple store and Google Play for more information if you choose to use this. I also wanted to take a moment to remind everyone that our clinic has a no tolerance policy on abuse, and this includes verbal abuse. Any patient that makes the decision to become verbally aggressive and use profanities against me or the doctor, whether it be on the phone, in-person, or through the messaging system here on Facebook, it will be noted in your chart and you will be immediately released from the clinic. I dislike that I have to remind people of this, but recent times warrant it being said. I hope you're all doing well; don't forget to wash your hands! - Rachel, MOA

Dear patients & friends, Just a quick update to let you all know that the clinic will be closed from July 13th to 17th. Please feel free to leave message for me during that time, either on the voicemail or through this page; I will get back to everyone when I return to the office on July 20th and 21st. ... Stay safe everyone! - Rachel, MOA

Dear patients & friends, I will be out of the office today, Monday, June 8. Please feel free to leave me a message, either through this page or on the office voicemail; I will return them when I get back tomorrow. I apologize for any inconvenience. ... - Rachel, MOA See more

Dear patients & friends, Due to the ongoing flooding that is currently happening in 150 Mile House and the surrounding area, Dr. Steyl will be working from home for the rest of this week. Any patients that have booked appointments to be seen in clinic will be receiving a phone call from myself shortly to either reschedule or modify their appointment. ... I apologize for the inconvenience. Any patients that require physical examinations or are experiencing issues that cannot be discussed and resolved over the telephone, are encouraged to report to the emergency department for assistance. Stay safe everyone. - Rachel, MOA (Photo credit to Dr. Steyl)

Dear patients & friends, I hope you're all doing well, despite the snow! I just wanted to post a little update on here about a couple of things. Today, due to the ongoing snowfall, my phone system has been behaving a bit erratically. I have been doing my best to fix it and keep it up, but not everyone has been able to get through, and for that I apologize. The only thing I can say is to please keep trying, and if you leave a message for me, I will try to get back to you ...as soon as I can. Also, the clinic will be closed Monday, Feb. 10, and Tuesday, Feb. 11. Messages left on this page or on the voicemail will be returned on Feb. 12 when I get back. Keep warm and stay safe! - Rachel, MOA

The World Health Organization is advising these five simple steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19: 1. Wash your hands 2. Cough/sneeze into your elbow 3. Dont touch your face... 4. Stay more than 3ft (1m) away from others 5. Stay home if you feel sick Handwashing is recommended: after coughing or sneezing when caring for the sick before, during & after you prepare food before eating after toilet use when hands are visibly dirty after handling animals or animal waste Alcohol-based hand rubs (must be 60-95% alcohol) are good to use in a pinch, but they are no substitute for good ol soap and water! Stay safe everyone!

Hello patients & friends, With the current state of affairs in the world, Dr. Steyl has decided to cancel her holiday. I have been getting a lot of questions in the last several days regarding closure of the clinic. I can say, that at this time, Dr. Steyl has no plans to close the clinic. We are currently exploring our options of what we can do to accommodate those who are self-isolating at home due to illness or exposure. We have been given permission to do telephone appoi...ntments, so if you would like to utilize this option, please do let me know. The only limitation is that these can only be booked if a physical examination is not required. I am currently looking into other options, in case the clinic has to go virtual. For the latest information regarding the novel coronavirus, please check the following resources: Interior Health Authority COVID-19 page: https://news.interiorhealth.ca/covid-19/ BC Centre for Disease Control: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19 Public Health of Canada: https://www.canada.ca//d/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html Provincial COVID-19 Information Line: 1-888-COVID19 (268-4319) Public Health of Canada COVID-19 Information Line: 1-833-784-4397

Wishing you all a happy Hallowe'en!

Dear patients & friends, Just a quick update! Dr. Steyl is planning to take her holidays from Saturday, March 21, until Wednesday, April 1. Her first day back in the office will be Thursday, April 2. ... During this break, I will be in the office doing administrative work and such, so I will be answering the phones and replying to messages as I usually would. Dr. Garrard has been kind enough to fill in for two days while Dr. Steyl is away, so he will be in-clinic for the mornings of Thursday, March 26, and Friday, March 27. As always, 24/7 care coverage has been arranged for anyone who is admitted to the hospital. Keep healthy, and dont forget to wash your hands. :) - Rachel, MOA

Dear patients & friends, I hope youre all doing well, despite the snow! I just wanted to post a little update on here about a couple of things. Today, due to the ongoing snowfall, my phone system has been behaving a bit erratically. I have been doing my best to fix it and keep it up, but not everyone has been able to get through, and for that I apologize. The only thing I can say is to please keep trying, and if you leave a message for me, I will try to get back to you ...as soon as I can. Also, the clinic will be closed Monday, Feb. 10, and Tuesday, Feb. 11. Messages left on this page or on the voicemail will be returned on Feb. 12 when I get back. Keep warm and stay safe! - Rachel, MOA

Dear patients & friends, It's been brought to my attention that Facebook is sending out incorrect reminders for appointments booked through our page. They usually say that your appointment is coming up on Wednesday, December 31. Please disregard these. I am not sure what Facebook has done with their calendar system, but something is askew, and I have not yet figured out what they've done and how to fix it. If you're confused as to when your appointment is, please either loo...k to the message of when it was booked (the little green confirmed appointment blurb) or please give me a call at the clinic. I apologize for the inconvenience; I am trying to get it sorted out. Thank you! - Rachel, MOA

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season, and a prosperous new year. Thank you for being our patients, we are grateful for each and every one of you!... Be safe! - Rachel, MOA PS - Just a reminder that the clinic will be closed from today, starting at noon, until December 27. All messages left on the voicemail or through this page will be returned then.

Dear patients & friends, Our holiday hours are as follows: Dec. 20th: 08:30 AM - 12:00 PM... Dec. 23rd: CLOSED Dec. 24th: CLOSED Dec. 25th: CLOSED Dec. 26th: CLOSED Dec. 27th: 08:30 AM - 03:30 PM Dec. 30th: 08:30 AM - 02:30 PM Dec. 31st: 08:30 AM - 02:30 PM Jan. 1st: CLOSED Jan. 2nd: CLOSED January 3, 2020, we will resume regular office hours. I hope everyone will have a safe, happy holiday season! Thank you! - Rachel, MOA

Wishing you all a happy Halloween!

Dear patients & friends, Its been brought to my attention that Facebook is sending out incorrect reminders for appointments booked through our page. They usually say that your appointment is coming up on Wednesday, December 31. Please disregard these. I am not sure what Facebook has done with their calendar system, but something is askew, and I have not yet figured out what theyve done and how to fix it. If youre confused as to when your appointment is, please either loo...k to the message of when it was booked (the little green confirmed appointment blurb) or please give me a call at the clinic. I apologize for the inconvenience; I am trying to get it sorted out. Thank you! - Rachel, MOA

Its that time of the year again, folks - flu season is upon us! So, what exactly is "the flu?" The flu is an illness of the upper airway, caused by an influenza A or B virus. Influenza is spread through coughing, sneezing, face-to-face contact, and touching droplets from a cough or sneeze and touching your eyes/nose/mouth before washing your hands. Influenza can lead to life-threatening medical conditions, including viral/bacterial pneumonia, which may require hospitaliza...tion, and death. What are the symptoms? Symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle pain, runny nose, sore throat, extreme tiredness and cough. You can also experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; this is more common in children. Symptoms of the flu can be similar to other viral illnesses, but the flu is much worse. Who is at risk? Seniors 65+, young children, individuals with chronic disease (especially of the heart and lung), pregnant women, and individuals who have compromised immune systems. How can transmission be prevented? Washing your hands regularly, cleaning and disinfecting objects/surfaces that are touched by multiple people, promptly disposing of used tissues, coughing/sneezing into your sleeve instead of your hands, staying at home when you feel ill, and getting an influenza vaccine. What is the flu shot? The flu shot is an annual, safe vaccination, which is easy to get and is provided free to patients who are deemed high risk, those able to transmit influenza to those at high risk, and people who provide essential community services. This years trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines contain four different inactive flu viruses, and the vaccine itself can be administered to you by your pharmacist, Dr. Steyl, your First Nations community health nurses or at the local health unit. The vaccine is given by injection only - the live virus nasal mist is not available for the 2019/2020 flu season due to shortages of active ingredients. For those who do not qualify for the free vaccine, it can be purchased through your pharmacy or at a travel clinic. Those who receive the vaccine may experience redness, swelling, and soreness at the injection site. Other symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle aches and fatigue that can last one or two days. For more information on flu vaccination, please check out: https://immunizebc.ca/influenza https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/h/inactivated-influenza-vaccine https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthli/flu-vaccine-myth-facts https://www.interiorhealth.ca//Seasonal/Pages/default.aspx As always, please feel free to call the clinic to make an appointment with Dr. Steyl to address any concerns. Hope youre all doing well and dont forget to wash your hands!

Hello patients & friends! I just wanted to let you all know that Dr. Steyl will be out of the office this week from September 25th to the 27th. She is doing some continuing medical education in Vancouver. I will be here to answer your calls and messages on the 25th and 26th, but the office will be closed on the 27th. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. As always, 24/7 coverage for our hospital patients has been arranged, and for any other matters, please either... proceed to the emergency department at CMH or visit the walk-in clinic. Thank you! - Rachel, MOA

Hello patients & friends! Dr. Steyl will be going on holiday from this Friday, July 26, and she will be returning on Tuesday, August 13. In her stead, Dr. Kristin Keith was kind enough to fill in again this year. Dr. Keiths schedule will be varied over the next couple of weeks, so please make sure to call sooner rather than later to get in on the day/time you want. ... I hope you are all enjoying the warmer weather, and dont forget your sunscreen! -Rachel, MOA

Hello patients & friends! I hope youre all enjoying the warmer weather! I have gotten a few questions in regards to the doctors planned summer vacation, so I figured that I would answer that here. ... At this point, Dr. Steyl is planning to be away from July 26, until August 12. I am not sure as of yet if we will have a locum physician covering us, but I will post closer to the date whether or not we do and what their availability will be. As always, we will have 24/7 emergency/inpatient coverage at the hospital. Thank you, and dont forget your sunscreen. - Rachel, MOA

Hello patients & friends! I just wanted to let you all know that the clinic will be closed for Spring Break starting Saturday, March 23, 2019, and we will be re-opening on Monday, April 1, 2019. As always, 24/7 coverage has been arranged for inpatient/emergent care at the hospital. For any non-urgent needs, the walk-in Borland Medi-Clinic is available. For hours and availability, please call them at 250-392-1971. ... Hope youre all enjoying the sun! - Rachel, MOA for The Phoenix Clinic

Hello patients & friends! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years! I just want to take a minute to remind everyone that even though the weather is currently very ugly, the clinics no-show policy is still in effect. If youre unable to to make your appointment, due to road conditions or otherwise, please do give us a call and let us know beforehand. ... For those unfamiliar with our no-show policy, it is as follows: three missed appointments results in a no-show fee of $60. This fee is added to your chart, and must be paid before you can book another appointment. Thank you, and stay safe! - Rachel, MOA for The Phoenix Clinic

Hello patients & friends! This is just to let you all know that the clinics last day before the holiday break will be December 21, 2018, and we will be re-opening on January 3, 2019. If you need to see Dr. Steyl, please make sure to call sooner than later, to make sure you get in before the holidays. ... Thank you! - Rachel, MOA for The Phoenix Clinic

Know your status; get tested!

Hello patients and friends! I just wanted to let everyone know that here at the clinic we have just upgraded our phone system. Hopefully this will help eliminate any issues that were being had previously. That being said, there were a few messages that were lost when the phone PBX was switched over, so if you left me a message last week and I did not get back to you, this is what happened and please accept my sincerest apologies for the inconvenience. Our phone number is sti...ll the same, so please do call back and I will get back to you right way! Also, starting in the new year, I will be launching a website that will allow for online appointment bookings and I will be starting a system for patients to receive e-mail reminders. I am also looking into setting up text reminders. I will update this page, as well as put up some information in the clinic, when I have begun to set this up. Thank you! - Rachel, MOA for The Phoenix Clinic

Hello patients & friends! Dr. Steyl will be on holiday starting today, August 13, and she will be returning on August 30. In her stead, we have Dr. Kristin Keith filling in. Dr. Keith is going to have a varied schedule for the next few weeks, so if you need an appointment, please call sooner rather than later to make sure you get the spot you want!... Also, we will be getting a new phone system within the next few weeks. For anyone who is having issues calling the clinic, hopefully, this will resolve all of the trouble we have been having. Thank you! - Rachel

Hello patients and friends! Please be advised that the clinic will be closed for staff holidays for the week of July 9th until July 13th. We will re-open on July 16th. ... Wishing you all a fun and safe Canada Day weekend!

The clinic experienced technical difficulties this morning with our phone system, due to an unexpected upgrade and server change. Our phones are now back up and running, and we apologize for any inconvenience.

Hello patients and friends! I am a little late in posting this to the page, but Dr. Steyl has returned from her medical/maternity leave and the clinic has reopened! For the time being, Dr. Steyl is no longer working Mondays, and she will only be working half-days on Fridays. ... Any updates or changes to the schedule will be posted here. Thank you! - Rachel

Dear Patients & Friends: The Phoenix Clinic is currently closed due to an ongoing medical situation. We are hoping to re-open during the month of February. For any urgent matters, please call 9-1-1 and head to the nearest emergency department.... For any other concerns, please call the Cameron Clinic at (250) 305-1102. Any messages left on this page or for Rachel at the office will be returned when the clinic re-opens. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. Thank you.