In an effort to reduce emergency room wait times at local hospitals, leaders of the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team (CKOHT) have launched a new campaign.
According to officials, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance's Emergency Departments in Chatham and Wallaceburg are experiencing high volumes of patients, which many times means long waits for service.
They’re encouraging the public to think twice about calling an ambulance for a non-life-threatening illness or event and avoid visiting the emergency room for a non-serious illness or symptoms.
"Now is the time of year when we start to see the cold and flu start to ramp up," said CKOHT Executive Transformation Lead Melissa Harrigan. "So, we're asking residents to think about the best place for their care, particularly for colds, flu, and other respiratory symptoms."
Combined with a rise in COVID-19 cases and stress on the local health care system, there are multiple options for residents to seek care, which does not include the Emergency Department.
"Physicians are starting to see a trend of people coming into the emergency room a little bit later, and a little bit sicker, than what they would have before the COVID-19 pandemic started," said Harrigan.
The team says for mild to moderate illnesses, health care can often be better and more efficiently provided by family physicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists.
In Chatham-Kent, there are three family health teams: Thamesview Family Health Team, Chatham-Kent Family Health Team, Tilbury District Family Health Team, and as well as the Chatham- Kent Community Health Centres – all of which have multiple locations to serve patients.
All four primary care organizations offer after-hours care and times are reserved for same-day and next-day appointments for rostered patients affiliated with their primary health care organization.
The best places to seek care for colds, flu, and upper respiratory symptoms:
• Family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner
• Pharmacist
• Chatham-Kent COVID-19 Assessment Centre
• Pediatric Assessment COVID-19 Centre (For children & youth)
Walk-In Clinics available for those who do not have a primary care physician or nurse practitioner:
• Tilbury Walk-In Clinic - No appointment is needed. Call 519-682-3699 or visit their website.
• Appletree Medical Group - No appointment is needed. Call 647-722-2370.
• GoodDoctors - Call 226-799-2603 to book a phone or in-person visit.
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