October 20th 2025

Dear Patients. 

Thank goodness many of my patients have now found healthcare providers. I would like to remain available to the rest of you for as long as possible. 

The email system works very well for me. I find I can manage emails but the phone calls are often booked more than 2 months in advance.

From the 1st of December 2025, I am changing the system to only emails but if you need to speak to me, you can contact me through Avee Clinic.

It is best for you to regularly check out my website for changes to the practice and for sudden times I am taken ill. https://painimprovement.com/dr-judy-derckseninc/

For Avee Phone Calls:

https://booking.avee.health/Dr-Dercksen

I open my bookings weekly on a Sunday or Monday

Please consider noting good details when making the appointment as the appointments are short and brief but thorough notes are quick to read and make the appointments better.

So as a first choice, use my email as I will have all your records and meds available on the clinic system. 

Patients who have not contacted me by email for 6 months will automatically be marked as Left Practice and your care can then be managed through Avee health or other virtual platforms.

For phone calls, please make bookings from the 1st of December 2025 through Avee Health.

Thank you for understanding this need for change. 

All the best

Judy

October 30th

Hello Dear Patients

I am missing seeing you and thank you for your kind messages. And YES. I am loving Qualicum Beach and hope to be able to take good care of you for a long time yet. 

Please note I will be away from December 12 to Jan 8 so make sure you have all refills or you will have to collect emergencies from your pharmacist.

Opioids are especially important as they cannot be prescribed as an emergency refill.

Please send an email or arrange a phone appointment early if you need them in this time. Please make sure you are able to accept blocked calls. If you can’t remember my email, you can use the contact form on this website and include your email please. Send BP and pulse readings and a note on how you are feeling/questions you have about your health. 

I read fast, so more information is better than none.

If computers aren’t your thing, you can ask the library, Senior Advocacy Group, or Quesnel Literacy Center in Westpark Mall, or Spirit Center opposite Shoppers. 

If you would like to manage your appointment by email, then send a note with symptoms, any relevant information including BP, weight, fevers or other signs. I will answer the email within 5 business days, unless I am on holiday. If I do not respond in 5 business days, please email me again. Also please let me know if you no longer wish me to manage the issue, for instance, if you decide to seek treatment at urgent care or ER. You can also use the Pomelo link to book a phone appointment. Missed phone appointments will be billed. If I don’t get through immediately, I will try again in a few minutes. Please note the appointment may be late if I am taking longer to care for an ill patient. Thank you for your understanding.

Please note that emails are not adequately protected from hackers or invasion. By using email, you agree to taking the risk of leakage of data attached to our emails. 

Also, a virtual visit is not ideal setting for comprehensive care. Any changes in condition should be addressed at Urgent Care or Emergency. Thank you. Take care. Judy.

How to Register:
click on the link: https://painimprovement.com/chronic-pain-contact/

then fill your email in the box
then at the bottom of password box – click on reset password
go back to your email
then register
good luck
Judy

Dearest Patients, I can’t believe just a few days and I leave Quesnel. Thank you for your kindness and support. I have learned so much from you and received so much love and understanding. 

I believe the virtual care can work well, but I am sure there will be hiccoughs. Or is that hiccups? Please remember emails are appointments. Try to put in as much information as you can and respond to my questions, but then if you have questions that can wait for another appointment, that helps ease the burden. We will figure it out as we go along. 

In the meantime, remember to register for a new doc – see below – and Pomelo to book phone appointments – all information below. Phone appointments will likely be hard to come by this year, but I reckon from next year things will settle and I can adjust my schedule. 

Take care. Judy

31 July 2024: Please keep my email address in your contacts or on paper as the email will disappear from your inbox in a week. Take care. Judy

Hi again,

Just a reminder to use the Quesnel Literacy Group  778) 414-9119 to help you navigate the internet. Make sure they help you put my name and email down as a contact.

I will be having a get together 23rd August Friday noon at the clinic if you have questions or want to say goodbye. No presents/gifts please. It has been a gift taking care of you. If you want to, bring a fold out chair and drinks in case it is hot and busy then we will sit in the lovely park next door. Take care Judy

This is how we can help build a great virtual practice

1. Patience (we all know how famous I am for my patience, but let us all try.)
2. Please follow up with your pharmacy to check if your meds came through and let them know which of them you need. Your pharmacist is welcome to email me with queries. Forms and Meds can take a while before they are processed.
3. Please check your email for spam
4. If you didn’t receive feedback after an email after 5 business days, please let me know.
5. Look under Types of Pain on my website for specific areas of your body. This will help you give me the information I need to help you virtually. For instance, back pain has red flags. This can be mentioned if you have none. 
    
   I am so sorry that we have such a difficult time getting healthcare providers in communities of need. We are all stressed and on a learning curve. If this works out well for us and I notice less stress than I’ve had for 37 years, then I will continue helping you the best I can for years to come.

   Take care    Judy

5th July 2024,

Dear Patients, if for some reason once I am in Qualicum, I couldn’t get hold of you on the phone, please don’t worry. Immediately send an email please or you will be charged a missed appointment of $50.00. Thank you Judy. I will be using my email you have for e-transfers. Take care Judy

Hi dear patients,

So we are now a few weeks into hearing how the new virtual care will work. Many of you are already using it. Please mention your preferred lab – GR Baker or Lifelabs even if you don’t think you will need lab work. Remember BP and pulse and how your are feeling, how long you have been ill. Remember I can refer to a specialist or for tests. Please let me know what is working. What is not working. We are going to learn together. Hopefully you will find a family doctor and I can still be available for appointments even if not your family doctor. I will try to work long after end of 2024.

You can collect your files at any time, but as I am not going anywhere, if you still plan to keep me on as your family doctor (until you find a new one) I’d recommend waiting before getting your files.

If you email and then change your mind and go to the ER or Urgent Care, please let me know so I can cancel the virtual appointment. Also, if urgent, use URGENT in subject line and I will try to get to it sooner.

I will keep updating this area. Take care. Judy

19th June 2024

Dear Patient

Thank you for your support and care. I am so glad you understand why I need this change. Please keep watching this space for updates. There is a meeting today at 2pm at the clinic. It’s drop in so feel free to come. Also, when you book appointments or get reminders, there is a note that says not to use their email. When you are emailing me, use the email I have given you in the letter. If you are not sure of the details, drop in at the office and ask Lyndsay.

Please note that emails are not adequately protected from hackers or invasion. By using email, you agree to taking the risk of leakage of data attached to our emails. Also, a virtual visit it not ideal setting for comprehensive care. Any changes in condition should be addressed at Urgent Care or Emergency. If you would like to manage your appointment by email, then send a note with symptoms, any relevant information including BP, weight, fevers or other signs. I will answer the email within 5 business days, usually sooner, unless I am on holiday. You can also use the Pomelo link to book an appointment.

Quesnel computer literacy group is in the West Park Mall. You can make an appointment 250 992 9330 and they will teach you how to get an email and use the computer.

Thank you. Take care.

Judy.

13 June 2024

Dear (Patient),

As an update, please note, you do not have to register to be a virtual patient. I will be speaking to the senior advocacy group, the Friendship Center, and various First Nations groups, to try and facilitate easier access for those of you who do not have emails.

You do not have to apply to be a patient once I am going virtual. Virtual appointments can be made using the link on my website and updates will be there as well. https://painimprovement.com/chronic-pain-contact/

I will also be hosting group visits on Wednesday afternoons, the first one June 19^th at 2pm. This will be a drop-in visit. I will offer more meetings as the need arises.

The current address can be used if you wish to have your medical records released to you or your new doctor.

697 Front Street, Quesnel, V2J 2K9.

Once the Heiho Clinic is closed, my new postal address will be:

PO Box 20043 Qualicum Centre V9K0B1

I will continue to care for you as best I can virtually for the last few months of the year as your family doctor, by email or phone, and hopefully long after that through virtual care appointments, but then not as your family doctor.

Please note that there is a fee associated with the transfer of medical records in the amount of $50.00.

Northern Health has been working hard to find new doctors. I know all over Canada people are struggling to find family doctors, and I am sorry to leave you without a doctor, but I promise to try my very best managing your care virtually at least until the end of the year. If all goes well, maybe for much longer.

Judy

12 June 2024

Dear Patient,

After 37 years in practice, 22 of them in Quesnel, I will be closing the Heiho Clinic and moving from family practice to virtual care. At this time, I expect to manage your needs as your family doctor until the end of 2024, however I may be moving into virtual care by the end of August. I hope to continue practicing virtual care after 2024.

If you wish to find a new doctor now, I urge you to begin your search as early as possible. You can do this by one of two ways:

• Registering your name through at this link – click the blue: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-connect-registry/quesnel There are more details for health care on the link.

There will be updates on my website: https://painimprovement.com/chronic-pain-contact/

I will also be hosting group visits on Wednesday afternoons, the first one June 19^th at 2pm. This will be a drop-in visit. I will offer more meetings as the need arises.

I have tried for a full year to find a doctor to take over my practice, many more to find a doctor to work with me. Unfortunately, this did not happen.

If you want your medical records released to you or another doctor, you will have to give written permission through an authorization for release of medical record form. To do this in the next two months, please contact the clinic or send a letter to

697 Front Street, Quesnel, V2J 2K9.

Once the Heiho Clinic is closed, my new postal address will be:

PO Box 20043 Qualicum Centre V9K0B1

As noted above, I will continue to care for you as best I can virtually for the last few months of the year as your family doctor, by email or phone, and hopefully long after that through virtual care appointments, but then not as your family doctor.

Please note that there is a fee associated with the transfer of medical records in the amount of $50.00.

I am thankful to you, my patients, for trusting me with your care for so many years. I have truly appreciated the opportunity to support you and your family.

Thank you for the privilege of being your family doctor and I wish you and your family the best of health in the future.

Judy