Specialized doctor and new equipment added to VJH team

Vernon Jubilee Hospital is now able to offer physiatry care treatments which previously required patients to be referred to Kelowna.

It’s due to the recruitment of Dr. Jennifer Thomas, who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, along with the recent purchase of two pieces of specialty equipment, an ultrasound and EMG machine.

“The Vernon Jubilee Hospital team was delighted to recently welcome physiatrist Dr. Jennifer Thomas to Vernon, a medical doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physiatrists diagnose and treat both acute pain as well as chronic pain and specialize in a wide variety of nonsurgical treatments for the musculoskeletal system. Dr. Thomas, working both in the community and at the hospital, will be available to treat a wide variety of medical conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons,” a news release from the VJH Foundation said.

Thomas said she is excited to return to her home town and to help patients develop treatment plans so they can enjoy a better quality of life.

“As a physiatrist, we focus on treating the whole person, not just the symptoms. In order to diagnose and treat pain, we require specialty equipment, such as an electromyography machine (EMG) to assess the health of muscles and the nerves that control them. In addition, the way we use an ultrasound machine is revolutionizing how we, as physiatrists, diagnose and treat many musculoskeletal conditions, allowing us to view soft tissue to diagnose and support treatment,” Thomas said.

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VJH Foundation Executive Director Kate McBrearty said new equipment to support Dr. Thomas has been added thanks to their generous supporters.

“At the recent 10th anniversary VJHF Charity Classic, the Jim and Laverne Popowich Foundation and Mr. Archie Stroh funded the purchase of the ultrasound machine in the Fund-a-Need portion of the event. In addition, an anonymous donation received after the event enabled the purchase of the EMG machine that’s required for patients to be tested right here in Vernon,” McBrearty said.