Long-Term Care Spotlight: An Interview with Dr. Blakemore
Long-Term Care Spotlight is a new series from the Central Okanagan Division, sharing the experiences of physicians working in long-term care and offering insights for colleagues interested in this area of practice. Our first feature highlights Dr. Blakemore, who discusses his typical day, the collaborative care environment, and life at Brookhaven Care Centre, a facility providing general LTC, care for residents with complex behaviours, and hospice services.
Q: What does a typical day look like for a family physician working in long-term care?
Dr. Blakemore: “It’s more relaxed than a day in the office. I have a schedule where I visit one day per week and once a month do a full review of all the residents under my care.”
Q: What drew you to start working in long-term care?
Dr. Blakemore: “I had a lot of experience of LTC work in the UK, and when we had some scheduling changes at the office I was looking at other work to fill in a day I was not in the clinic.”
Q: What questions or misconceptions do you most often hear from colleagues curious about working in LTC, and what would you want them to know?
Dr. Blakemore: “Hard work, demanding, difficult to fit into a schedule with clinic work. None of those are an issue, and it is also financially as rewarding as clinic work.”
Q: What does collaboration with other care team members look like in this setting?
Dr. Blakemore: “It’s been a challenge since COVID due to staff turnover, but does seem to be improving. Ideally we have a stable team and an RN available on the day I visit to discuss any medical issues. There is also a close working relationship with care managers, LPNs, and with the regular care conferences liaison with other members of care home staff.”
Q: What should physicians know about typical time commitments and scheduling options in long‑term care homes?
Dr. Blakemore: “I schedule one day per week and sometimes it’s several hours, sometimes an hour or two. It fits in with clinic work very well.”
Q: How does compensation in long-term care—both for regular roles and occasional coverage shifts—compare to other family practice settings?
Dr. Blakemore: “Similar I would say.”
Q: In what ways has working in long-term care expanded your clinical or interpersonal skills as a physician?
Dr. Blakemore: “It’s part of the care from birth to end of life that I have always strived to practice. I feel patients value this relationship. There are also lots of clinical medical issues to deal with.”
Q: What’s the easiest way for a clinic-based physician to start with occasional coverage in long‑term care?
Dr. Blakemore: “Build up a five-patient panel in a home and see if they like the work and can build from there.”
Q: What stands out to you about working at Brookhaven specifically?
Dr. Blakemore: “It’s a large facility with coverage for challenging behaviour, LTC, and hospice care, so it has a wide variety of residents. There is weekly psych coverage on the challenging behaviour unit. The staff are very caring with some highly experienced and effective nursing members.”
Q: Are there any amenities, team supports, or systems at Brookhaven that make your job easier or more fulfilling?
Dr. Blakemore: “It’s naturally evolved that my regular attendance and the staff knowing this has helped.”
Working in long-term care offers variety, meaningful patient connections, and a collaborative team environment. Physicians interested in exploring LTC opportunities or getting involved can reach out to Jen at jbitz@codivision.ca.