New Physiatrist and Much Needed Equipment for North Okanagan Residents
Local residents will no longer have to be referred to Kelowna to accessphysiatry care treatments with the recruitment of a new doctor and the purchaseof new two pieces of specialty equipment.
The Vernon Jubilee Hospital team was delighted torecently welcome Physiatrist Dr. Jennifer Thomas to Vernon, a medical doctorwho specializes in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Physiatrists diagnoseand treat both acute pain as well as chronic pain and specialize in a widevariety of nonsurgical treatments for the musculoskeletal system. Dr. Thomas, working both in the community andat the hospital, will be available to treat a wide variety of medicalconditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments,muscles, and tendons.
“I am excited to return to my home town and to helppatients develop treatment plans so they can enjoy a better quality oflife. As a physiatrist, we focus ontreating the whole person, not just the symptoms,” stated Dr. Thomas. “In orderto diagnose and treat pain, we require specialty equipment, such as anelectromyography machine (EMG) to assess the health of muscles and the nervesthat control them. In addition, the way we use an ultrasound machine isrevolutionizing how we, as physiatrists, diagnose and treat manymusculoskeletal conditions, allowing us to view soft tissue to diagnose andsupport treatment.”
“Thanks to very generous supporters, we are supporting Dr.Thomas’ work and improving care for local residents. At the recent 10th Anniversary VJHF CharityClassic, the Jim & Laverne Popowich Foundation and Mr. Archie Stroh fundedthe purchase of the ultrasound machine in the Fund-a-Need portion of theevent”, said Kate McBrearty, Executive Director of VJH Foundation. “Inaddition, an anonymous donation received after the event enabled the purchaseof the EMG machine that’s required for patients to be tested right here inVernon.”
Dr. Thomas plays a key role in the rehabilitation team atVJH and also sees outpatients at the hospital and in her community practice.