Nurse practitioner primary health care services are being expanded in Saugeen Shores with the opening of the Same Day Urgent Care Clinic.
The expanded service was announced by the municipality and the Ontario Branch of VON Canada’s Nurse Practitioner Program, according to a release.
VON Canada is a registered charity who works with individuals and organizations to provide clinical, personal and social support to people who need assistance in their home.
Nurse practitioner (NP) Colleen Fowler has been in the area for several years, delivering primary health care services from the Saugeen Shores Medical Building, and is being joined by a second NP, Elizabeth Clare, to expand their services.
NP’s are advanced practice nurses, according to the release, who have received extra education and experience, with a larger scope of practice. They have the skills to assess, diagnose and manage health conditions, with a focus on holistic care, primary prevention and health promotion.
The VON Same Day Urgent Clinic will be opening on Nov. 1 and will maintain registered clients and permit urgent care appointments for residents of Saugeen Shores or transient individuals who perhaps have another provider, but need to be seen.
Residents in the area who do not have a primary health care provider, will be given the chance to become a permanent client until both NP panels are at their maximum capacity.
For the transient residents, who work with Bruce Power, are in construction or are a cottager, services will be given for any urgent needs like sore throats, lacerations, or joint sprains.
Any long-standing problems like chronic pain, will not be tended to for those were are not registered clients, and no controlled drugs like opioids or benzodiaepines will be given to non-resisted clients.
Prescriptions for chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension or asthma will not be topped up at this clinic if a transient patient has another provider somewhere else.
As of Nov. 1, residents who don’t have a provider can call 226-909-1309 to set up a meet and greet appointment with one of the nurse practitioners.
The afternoons, when the VON Clinic is open, will be allocated for same-day appointments, and starting Nov. 1, those appointments can be made by calling the number as of 9 a.m.
Appointments will be based on a first-come first-served basis and any urgent appointments for the following afternoon can only be booked that next morning.
