Cough, cold and flu patients without a family physician or nurse practitioner have a new pathway to care with the expansion of a Care Clinic being offered by the Couchiching Ontario Health Team (COHT) at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH).
Open 7 days a week, the COHT Care Clinic is solely designed for patients without a family doctor or nurse practitioner. It is located in the Kiwanis building at the West Entrance to the hospital, which has been home to the COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Clinic for the past several months.
COVID-19 testing and vaccination will still be available to all those eligible in addition to support for patients without a family doctor or nurse practitioner. Providing the right care in the right place is a goal we strive to provide to our community. Population health management and equity in healthcare access is a top priority for all Ontario Health Teams.
“There are multiple benefits to this approach,” explained Dr. Kim McIntosh, COHT Physician Lead. “First and foremost, it’s delivering much needed care to a growing segment of our population, particularly as more clinicians retire or leave the profession. Second, it will help relieve pressure off hospital emergency departments where many of these patients would attend, simply because they had no other alternative.”
In addition to care for respiratory illnesses, the Care Clinic will also provide services such as a Cervical Screening Day on Thursday, December 15, 2022. Screening is particularly vital for patients who have not had a cervical screening in three years or more.
The Care Clinic is now open 7 days a week. Appointments are required and can be easily booked online at https://www.osmh.on.ca/covid-19/ OR www.care-clinics.ca Phone number for the Care Clinic is 705.325.2201 ext. 8250