Sarnia Rapids Family Health Team on Pontiac Dr. BlackburnNews.com file photo by Dave DentingerSarnia Rapids Family Health Team on Pontiac Dr. BlackburnNews.com file photo by Dave Dentinger
Sarnia

Rapids health team providing community care during pandemic

The Rapids Family Health Team Access to Care Centre will be providing its service primarily over the phone starting this week.

Health Promoter Cynthia McColeman said COVID-19 screening has slowed down patient visits but they're still available for episodic medical conditions like urinary tract infections, ear aches, and rashes.

"We're still trying to keep people out of the emergency rooms unnecessarily and on Monday, what we're going to be doing is move to a phone-care system so people can call our access to care centre," said McColeman. "They'll speak to a nurse who will triage them and put them on, if necessary, to a nurse practitioner."

McColeman said if someone needs to be seen in person, arrangements will be made at that time.

Patients are still encouraged to try to contact their primary care physician first.

"If you can't get a hold of your doctor, the access to care centre is certainly there to help you. We're not looking to drum up business, we're looking to provide the care that people need in the community and we want them to know that it's still available."

Calls to 519-491-6188 will be received Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Easter Monday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

McColeman said a new video web application is also in the final stages of development and they're hoping to launch it in the near future.

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