A new primary health-care delivery model in which nurse practitioners are the lead providers will be opened in Niagara Falls.
On Wednesday, Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor announced the province will support the opening of a nurse practitioner clinic on Drummond Road. The clinic will be operated by Sam Ibraham and Craitor said he feels it will assist with the wait times at Greater Niagara General hospital in Niagara Falls. “Nurse practitioners have the skills and the ability to diagnose illnesses, prescribe medications and order appropriate diagnostic testing. In short they can make sure you get the timely access to the health care you need.”
The clinic will serve to care for people who do not have a primary health-care provider or family physician and decrease the burden of non-urgent emergency room visits.
“The clinic will have a multidisciplinary approach to care, employing professionals such as nurses, social workers, health promoters, dieticians, nurse practitioners and consultant physicians to serve the vast healthcare needs of Niagara’s residents, inclusive of all ages and health conditions,” said Ibraham. “The Niagara Nurse Practitioners Led Clinic (NNPLC) will work in collaboration with community partners and local healthcare services to optimize health and wellness for Niagara residents.”
According to Craitor, the announcement completes a suite of services designed to get Niagara Falls residents the health care they require in a timely fashion.
“The province over the last eight years has built a new emergency department at GNGH, authorized three family health teams, several urgent care walk-in clinics, a community health centre and now a nurse practitioner-led clinic. In short, if Niagara residents use the health care facilities we put in place appropriately nobody has to wait hours for appropriate treatment.”
The walk-in clinic is expected to be up and running by the new year.
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