NEWS RELEASE
ELLIOT LAKE FAMILY HEALTH TEAM
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On Oct. 4, 2022, the Elliot Lake Family Health Team is expanding its services to the community by opening a same-day nurse practitioner clinic three days a week to provide non-emergent care to patients with and without a physician or nurse practitioner.
The clinic will operate on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is located on the first floor of the ELNOS Building.
“The opening of the clinic is a result of on-going commitment and collaboration with community partners to find innovative ways to provide safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable and patient-centred care to the people of Elliot Lake and surrounding area,” according to Nancy Ewen, executive director of the family health team.
Patients can book appointments with a nurse practitioner three days a week using a dedicated phoneline which will be answered beginning at 8:30 a.m. on clinic days until all available spaces for the day are filled. Once this occurs, a pre-recorded message will advise callers that appointments are no longer being accepted and options for care will be offered.
"It is important to note that the same-day nurse practitioner clinic is not a walk-in clinic," Ewen noted.
"As you are aware, many patients with non-emergent medical issues seek care at the hospital as they feel it is their only option. The Same-Day Clinic can now provide another option to a variety of patients that need to be urgently assessed and treated for minor problems such as rashes, bladder infections, earaches, minor injuries, or pain.
"Individuals who require urgent prescription renewals for non-controlled medications and requisitions for lab work may also book appointments and access the Clinic.
"Physicals and medical forms for those without a primary care provider can be completed but patients rostered at the Family Health Team will be asked to continue to book appointments with their Physician or Nurse Practitioner.
"While the same-day clinic will alleviate some pressures on the hospital emergency department, it is not intended for medical emergencies. Patients will continue to attend the hospital if experiencing chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe respiratory distress, severe pain, mental health issues, pregnancy complaints or any medical issue that may require urgent testing or admission to hospital."
Individuals can also seek advice from a registered nurse at Health Connect Ontario by calling 811.
Information posters will be distributed throughout the community and further education about the clinic will be posted on the Elliot Lake Family Health Team Facebook page in the coming days.
“The Family Health Team is excited to provide this new service to the community and looks forward to other initiatives to improve the care they provide in the future,” Ewen said.
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