Can’t find a family doctor in Kamloops, BC? You’re not alone. Here’s why more residents are turning to Naturopathic Physicians for ongoing primary care support.
Across Canada, too many people are struggling to find a family doctor, and many who do have one still can’t get in when they need care. In British Columbia, demand exceeds capacity and many residents must join long waitlists; in Kamloops some people wait more than two years to get a family doctor.
And even once they do find a family doctor, burnout and administrative burdens leave MDs stretched thin, and the system often allows only brief, infrequent appointments that leave patients feeling unheard.
Patients want to be heard and to actually see their family doctor in a reasonable time, but the system is broken.
My schedule as a Naturopathic Physician in Kamloops allows me to spend more time with patients, prioritize getting them in for follow-ups, and truly build the one-on-one relationship that is so important to meaningful health care.
I strongly believe in being proactive. In my own personal experience as a patient, I understand that in traditional medicine, it can feel like you have to have a problem in order to be seen. It can feel like waiting for the engine to burn out before they’ll see you for a routine oil change, so to speak.
This is where my practice differs drastically from the traditional route. I can, and do, make time to listen to patients, understand that they are the experts of their own bodies, and use my expertise to help them navigate their health. There’s no gaslighting patients into thinking “everything is fine” if they don’t feel fine.
What Is a Naturopathic Physician?
A Naturopathic Physician blends biomedical science with natural therapies. In British Columbia we are regulated primary‑care providers who complete a four‑year degree and a four‑year Naturopathic Medical program. Our training covers physiology, pharmacology, diagnostics, nutrition and physical medicine. We can order laboratory tests, perform exams, diagnose common conditions and develop comprehensive treatment plans. By exploring your lifestyle and diet, we uncover root causes and emphasise prevention.
What is the difference between a Naturopathic Physician (ND) and Medical Doctor (MD?
In British Columbia, the difference between a naturopathic physician and a medical doctor is not as simple as “natural medicine versus conventional medicine.” Both are regulated health professionals, and there is more overlap in day-to-day primary care than many patients realize.
A Naturopathic Physician in B.C. can assess your health, perform physical exams, diagnose many conditions within their scope, order and interpret many common lab tests, prescribe many medications when certified, provide injection therapies, and support patients with both acute and chronic health concerns. The major difference is often the approach: Naturopathic Physicians tend to spend more time looking at nutrition, digestion, hormones, stress, sleep, lifestyle, prevention, and the underlying factors that may be contributing to symptoms.
A Medical Doctor has a broader conventional medical scope, including hospital-based care, specialist referral pathways, emergency medicine, advanced imaging access, and more unrestricted authority around certain procedures, medications, and higher-risk medical situations.
For many patients, a Naturopathic Physician can act as an accessible primary health provider for ongoing concerns, prevention, lab review, medication support, and comprehensive treatment planning. There are still times when collaboration with a Medical Doctor, specialist, emergency department, or hospital system is necessary; each provider has a different role within the health care system.
A simple way to understand it:
- Both NDs and MDs can assess your health and discuss symptoms.
- Both NDs and MDs can diagnose many health concerns within their scope.
- Both NDs and MDs can use lab testing to guide care.
- Both NDs and MDs can prescribe medications
- Both NDs and MDs can support chronic health concerns.
- NDs often have more appointment time to explore the full picture, including lifestyle, nutrition, hormones, digestion, stress, sleep, and prevention.
- MDs have broader access to hospital-based medicine, emergency care, advanced imaging, specialists, and higher-risk medical interventions.
The goal is not to pin one system against the other. The goal is always to provide the patient the best care for their needs in a timely manner.
Can a Naturopathic Physician be a primary care provider in B.C.?
Yes. In British Columbia, Naturopathic Physicians are regulated primary care practitioners with a broad scope of practice. For many patients, especially those who do not have a family doctor or are struggling to access timely appointments, a Naturopathic Physician can provide ongoing support for prevention, lab work, prescriptions, chronic concerns, women’s health, digestive health, hormones, fatigue, pain, and more.
What can a Naturopathic Physician prescribe in B.C.?
Naturopathic Physicians in B.C. do much more than recommend supplements. With Prescriptive Authority certification, Naturopathic Physicians can prescribe many commonly used medications, including antibiotics, antivirals, hormones, thyroid medications, blood pressure medications, and certain mental health medications.
There are limitations. Naturopathic Physicians do not prescribe narcotics or controlled substances (Testosterone, DHEA). However, for many common primary care concerns, the prescribing scope is much broader than many patients realize. In my practice, prescriptions are used thoughtfully and when appropriate, alongside nutrition, lifestyle changes, supplements, and other treatment options.
Why are more patients choosing Naturopathic Physicians as primary providers?
Many patients are choosing Naturopathic Physicians because they want more time, more access, and a more proactive approach to care. They want to feel heard. They want someone to look at the full picture. They want to understand why they feel the way they do, not just be told everything is fine when they do not feel fine.
In Kamloops and across British Columbia, many families are struggling to find a family doctor or get timely appointments with their current provider. This has left patients looking for another way to receive consistent, relationship-based care. For many, working with a Naturopathic Physician helps fill that gap.
Can a Naturopathic Physician order lab work and imaging?
Yes. Naturopathic Physicians in B.C. can order and interpret many common lab tests. This allows us to investigate concerns like fatigue, low iron, thyroid imbalance, hormone changes, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, blood sugar concerns, cardiovascular risk, and more.
Naturopathic Physicians in B.C. can also order certain diagnostic imaging, including X-rays and ultrasounds. However, CT and MRI scans require referral through an MD. This is one of the reasons collaboration matters. A Naturopathic Physician can manage a great deal of your primary care, while also recognizing when another part of the health care system is needed.
What does seamless care look like with a Naturopathic Physician?
One of the biggest benefits of working with a Naturopathic Physician is continuity. I can listen to your concerns, order appropriate testing, review your results, explain what they mean, and build a treatment plan based on your symptoms, history, lifestyle, and goals.
That plan may include nutrition, supplements, lifestyle changes, medications, iron infusions, acupuncture, IV therapy, hormone support, SIBO/IBS treatment or referrals when needed. Having one provider who knows your story helps reduce confusion and makes care feel more connected.
Can a Naturopathic Physician help with fatigue, low iron, and ongoing symptoms?
Yes, and this is a good example of how Naturopathic primary care works. Fatigue is one of the most common concerns I see, but it can have many causes, including low iron, thyroid changes, hormone shifts, poor sleep, stress, nutrient deficiencies, chronic inflammation, digestive concerns, or blood sugar imbalance.
With low iron specifically, symptoms can include fatigue, weakness, headaches, poor concentration, cold hands and feet, brittle nails, hair loss, dizziness, restless legs, and low exercise tolerance. Many patients are told their blood work is “normal,” even when their ferritin or iron stores may not be optimal for how they feel.
Treatment usually starts with diet and oral iron when appropriate. I look at the type of iron, dose, absorption, gut health, menstrual history, diet, and other nutrients involved in red blood cell production, including vitamin B12 and folate. If oral iron is not tolerated, not absorbed well, or not improving levels, IV iron may be considered when clinically appropriate.
This is where Naturopathic care can be especially helpful: we are not just treating a number on a lab report. We are asking why the deficiency is happening, what else may be contributing, and what treatment path makes the most sense for the patient.
Everything You Need To Know About Iron Infusions
Your Kamloops Naturopathic Family Physician | Dr. Kaleb Falk, ND
If you are looking for a primary care provider who has time to listen, investigate, and build a plan around your actual life, I would be happy to support you. As a regulated Naturopathic Physician in Kamloops, I provide comprehensive care through Total Health Clinic at 735 Victoria Street, as well as virtual care for patients across British Columbia.
My additional training in acupuncture, bioidentical hormones, chelation, oxidative/ozone therapy, IV nutrient therapy, and iron infusions allows me to personalize treatment based on your symptoms, lab work, goals, and overall health picture. Whether you need support with diet, supplements, medications, antiaging, hormones, fatigue, pain, or ongoing primary care, my goal is to help you feel heard, supported, and proactive about your health.
When you are ready, book your initial visit and let’s build a personalized plan to help you and your family thrive.
Dr. Kaleb Falk, ND |
Dr. Kaleb Falk is a Naturopathic Physician in Kamloops with more than 13 years of clinical experience and a strong foundation in both science-based medicine and individualized patient care. His training began with five years at The University of Lethbridge, where he completed a Bachelor of Science with a major in Neuroscience, followed by four years of intensive naturopathic medical training at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine, completed without summer breaks. Over the course of his career, Dr. Falk has worked with more than 5,000 patients, helping individuals and families better understand their health, address the root causes of their concerns, and make informed decisions about their care. His expertise includes advanced training in the safe use of pharmaceuticals, prescribing authority, iron infusions, prolotherapy, Platelet-Rich Plasma injections, IV nutrient therapies, hormone replacement therapy, neural therapy, trigger point injections, aesthetic botox, dermal fillers, and other advanced treatment options.
Dr. Falk is also a founding member of SIBODoctors.ca, a patient education resource focused on IBS and Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. He has previously taught at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition and the Vancouver College of Massage Therapy, and he is a former executive member of the British Columbia Naturopathic Doctors Association. As a Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Falk combines clinical experience, advanced training, and a hands-on approach to help patients feel heard, supported, and actively involved in their health. |
