As the Westshore Urgent Primary Care Centre opened on Nov. 5, approximately 60 patients used the new service on its first day.
B次元官网网址淲e certainly saw quite a bit of demand and interest in our urgent primary care centre,B次元官网网址� said Dr. Elizabeth Wiley, the first to work at the centre on opening day. B次元官网网址淚 think it was a successful day.B次元官网网址�
A team of family practitioners, nurse practitioners, office co-ordinators and a mental health substance use clinician help care for a range of health concerns, which could include fevers, trying to determine if an injury is a sprain or a break, and mental health services.
Anyone can go to the clinic, whether or not they have a family physician, but Island Health said you should always contact your care provider or family doctor first. Most physicians leave space in their schedule for patientsB次元官网网址� urgent needs as they come up.
B次元官网网址淪ervices are for patients who need urgent access to care, with conditions that should be seen within 12 to 24 hours, but donB次元官网网址檛 require a visit to the emergency department,B次元官网网址� said Deborah Cracknell, Island HealthB次元官网网址檚 director of community health services for Sooke, Esquimalt and West Shore.
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At 582 Goldstream Ave., the centre in Langford is one of four newly-opened urgent primary care centres in B.C. and the first on Vancouver Island.
B次元官网网址淭he western community is one of the fastest growing, if not the fastest growing community in B.C.,B次元官网网址� Cracknell said.
As young families move to the area and add to the ageing population, Dr. Dan Horvat, the medical director of western communities for Island Health said they estimate between 15,000 and 30,000 people in the western communities do not have a family physician or primary care provider.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a significant need that we know needs to be filled,B次元官网网址� Horvat said. B次元官网网址淭his is the first step in a multi-step process to address that need.B次元官网网址�
Next steps include connecting patients with care practitioners for long-term care, which Horvat said is critically important.
B次元官网网址淭his is more about providing a team-based care, more integrated services and we really look forward to working with physicians and the Heath Authority Ministry to make this and the next steps a success,B次元官网网址� Horvat said.
On Oct. 26, the province announced its new health care strategy, including 10 urgent care centres as they create a network of primary care throughout B.C.
In the meantime, Wiley said she looks forward to working collaboratively with the other practitioners at the clinic, and that their internal informal referrals, such as to the mental health substance use clinician, may help reach their goal of reducing wait times for services.
The centre will be open on Goldstream Avenue from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Horvat said they aim to have it open 365 days a year.
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@KeiliBartlett
keili.bartlett@blackpress.ca
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