Doctors can impact patient’s lifestyle by inviting them to walk, says Kamloops family doctor

Five years of doctors walking with patients

Walk with your Doc week is coming up May 3 – 11. In preparation for the province-wide events, doctors and their patients are telling their Walk with your Doc stories about why they started, what they experienced, and how their lives have changed. If you have a story about Walk with your Doc that you’d like to share please contact View Email Addressetimmerman@doctorsofbc.ca.

Doctors can impact patient’s lifestyle by inviting them to walk, says Kamloops family doctor

When Sandra Baird, of Kamloops, BC, made the decision in 2009 to change her diet and become more active she knew she needed support from her family and physician.

“Losing weight is a difficult thing,” says Sandra, “It can be frustrating and there are setbacks. You need encouragement from the people you trust that what you’re doing is worth it.”

Weight can be a vulnerable topic for many patients and Sandra’s friend, Karen McClelland, recognized she needed motivation to reach her goal. She referred Sandra to her family physician, Dr Chip Bantock.

“I’ve struggled with weight myself, and last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” says Karen. “When you have cancer treatment you gain weight. But Dr Bantock is so encouraging, and he reminds me each time I see him that I will get better as I get more active.”

Sandra now sees Dr Bantock each month for a regular weigh-in and follow-up, where they discuss how she’s progressed and what can be modified. He’s encouraged Sandra to attend Aquafit three times a week because it is a fun form of exercise and will be easier on her joints.

Dr Bantock is a strong advocate in Kamloops for daily activity. For the past four years he has organized Walk with your Doc around McArthur Island, inviting all of his patients and the public to join him and fellow colleagues, Dr Shirley Sze and Peter Gorman. Each year between 50 – 70 patients attend and each one receives a free pedometer to count their steps. 

“I ask them to do as little or as much as they can in the interest of supporting a healthy lifestyle,” says Dr Bantock. “I have had whole families walk with their children, babies in strollers, kids on bikes, as well as couples and even a 95year-old lady with her daughter. Now patients ask me about it each year and that one walk isn’t enough.”

Although the annual event is gaining in popularity, he still struggles to increase uptake from other doctors. “It’s a shame because family physicians can encourage exercise this way at no cost to anyone. And it does have an impact on their lives because as doctors we do leave an impression on our patients.”

Both Sandra and Karen are avid participants at Walk with your Doc and say its message is a strong one for patients. “It’s nice having a doctor willing to walk with you and show their commitment to caring,” explains Sandra.

Karen agrees. “Walk with your Doc gives people the message that health is more than treating illness, its prevention and support.”

Drs Bantock, Sze, and Gorman will be hosting Walk with your Doc this year at McArthur Island Park, Wednesday, May 7, at 6:00 PM. To sign up email Vivian at View Email Addressvvandorne@divisionsbc.ca.

To learn more about other walking events happening around BC, visit walkwithyourdoc.ca.