Virtual health care from nurse practitioners now available
MANITOULIN—Ontario Health North East has launched the North East Virtual Care Clinic, which offers patient virtual care led by nurse practitioners. Patients can access timely care for medical conditions such as new or persistent cough, fever, rash or other similar symptoms and imminent concerns that are not life or limb threatening. And, while this program is focused on patients without a primary care provider, anyone can call.
“From a Manitoulin Health Centre (MHC) perspective with the current gap in physician compliments (at hospitals) this program will assist in patient care needs and help divert some patients who would normally go to an emergency room,” said Paula Fields, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of MHC. “It is another resource for people to get care.”
“It is an initiative put out by the OHT to assist and meet primary care needs, and the primary care shortage in the province. It is run by nurse practitioners who will be able to prescribe some medications and order diagnostic tests,” said Doctor Stephen Cooper.
Dr. Cooper, who is on the Ontario Health committee said, “at this time everyone is concerned that a lot of patients in Ontario don’t have a primary care provider. There may be about a couple million unattached patients in Ontario. I pay taxes, and if I was not able to access a family doctor I would be upset.”
“This virtual clinic is not going to solve this problem, but it will help,” said Dr. Cooper. “It is available to everyone. With this program, a patient’s medical concern can be diagnosed by a nurse practitioner virtually or if they need a diagnosis by a nurse practitioner, this can be done. And if, say, a patient needs a renewal of their blood pressure medication this can be done virtually, with the nurse practitioner sending the prescription to a local pharmacist.”
“Of course, if a patient is suffering something like a heart attack or a stroke, please go to the hospital emergency room,” continued Dr. Cooper. “We have to lower the number of unattached patients and make care more accessible. And with this program it will help to take the pressure off doctors in emergency rooms.”
“It is a great program and has the ability to take the next step in diagnosis and care,” said Dr. Cooper. He noted the system is replacing the former Telehealth.
The North East Region Virtual Care Clinic is a nurse practitioner-led virtual care clinic that serves patients throughout the Ontario Health North East region who are experiencing an urgent medical condition and need access to timely care. To register phone 1-888-684-1999 or go online to nevirtualcare.ca
The clinic is available seven days a week from 1-9 pm.
