Our Team
The BC Home Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Programs are made up of two teams with overlapping staff. Both teams are based out of St. Paul’s Hospital within Providence Health Care.
British Columbia Home Parenteral Nutrition
(BC HPN) Program
The BC HPN care team includes a doctor, dietitian, nurse, pharmacist, secretary and coordinator. We work together with family doctors, specialists and other health care providers across BC and the Yukon.
Medical Director: Dr. George Ou
Dr. Ou is a gastroenterologist with specialized training in parenteral and enteral nutrition. He manages the medical aspects of a patient’s nutritional program. Dr. Ou monitors and adjusts a patient’s nutrition program as indicated by the patient’s medical status and progress. He works with other health care professionals in maintaining a patient’s overall health status as it relates to their nutrition.
Medical Associate: Dr. Hin Hin Ko
Dr. Ko is a gastroenterologist with specialized training in parenteral nutrition and a clinical practice focus in liver disease. She co-manages the medical aspects of a patient’s nutritional program with Dr. Whittaker and Dr. Ou. This includes monitoring and adjusting a patient’s nutrition program as indicated by the patient’s medical status and progress. She also works with other health care professionals in maintaining a patient’s overall health status as it relates to their nutrition.
Medical Associate: Dr. Scott Whittaker
Dr. Whittaker is a gastroenterologist with specialized training in parenteral and enteral nutrition. He co-manages the medical aspects of a patient’s nutritional program with Dr. Ou and Dr. Ko. This includes monitoring and adjusting a patient’s nutrition program as indicated by the patient’s medical status and progress. He also works with other health care professionals in maintaining a patient’s overall health status as it relates to their nutrition.
Patient Educator: Rachel Garner
Rachel is a registered nurse specially trained in teaching HPN. She works with patients and their families during the training period to teach them the techniques to infuse PN at home. Once training is complete, Rachel provides consultation for HPN and central venous catheter (CVC) related care for HPN patients who are at home or in hospital. Rachel also liaises with the HPN supply company to ensure that patients are receiving the proper supplies for their HPN.
Dietitian: Andrée Richardson
Andrée is a registered dietitian with specialized training in parenteral and enteral nutrition. She provides nutrition education and works with patients and their families to help them understand the importance of their personalized nutrition and hydration requirements. Andrée monitors patient tolerance to PN, reviews laboratory values and coordinates adjustments in the HPN solution with Dr. Whittaker, Dr. Ko and Dr Ou. She also liaises with the HPN supply company to ensure that solutions are accurate.
Pharmacist: Linda Jang
Linda is a pharmacist who provides consultation services to our team. She works with the HPN team to provide patients with their parenteral nutrition solution while in the hospital for training. Linda participates in the management of parenteral nutrition solutions by monitoring laboratory values and minimizing the risk for potential drug interactions with the parenteral nutrition.
Secretary: Manisha Klair
Manisha is a secretary who provides administrative support to the BC HPN Program and team. She acts as a central liaison of information regarding patient flow and triages communication within the program. Manisha maintains patient charts and ensures the team members have the materials they need to complete their work.
Project Coordinator: Vanessa Lewis
Vanessa is the coordinator of the BC HPN Program. She works with the HPN team in screening applications for the Program and establishing administrative guidelines to ensure the program functions well. Vanessa also oversees the budget for the BC HPN Program and is involved in special projects that improve patient care.
British Columbia Home Enteral Nutrition
(BC HEN) Program
The BC HEN team is comprised of overlapping staff from the BC HPN team. The team includes a medical director (Dr. Ou), dietitian (Andrée Richardson), secretary (Manisha Klair) and program coordinator (Vanessa Lewis).
The team is responsible for providing administrative support to and financial oversight of the BC HEN Program. Clinical care is provided by the health care professionals who refer patients to the Program.
