A new service is now available for those seeking medical treatment in the Battlefords.
A walk-in clinic, the CBI Health Centre, has been set up inside the mall at the location currently occupied by CBI Physical Rehabilitation Centre.
The walk-in clinic has been in operation since June 1. According to Ryon Haggard of CBI, co-ordinator of the clinic, it has been developed to meet a need in the Battlefords.
CBI is introducing the service to the Battlefords on a four-month, pilot project basis. The company already provides physiotherapy services at their Territorial Mall location, but has also provided similar walk-in medical services in other provinces.
"This is our first medical division in Saskatchewan, but not new to our company," said Haggard.
The plan is to continue providing physiotherapy services during the day and operate the walk-in clinic during the evening. The hours of operation for the clinic will be from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Haggard said the idea is to relieve some of the pressure on the emergency room at Battlefords Union Hospital, particularly during higher volume hours. As well, it would provide an option for those without a family physician to receive medical care.
It was apparent to those at the physiotherapy clinic there was such a need.
"We have a lot of people who come into our physio clinic, but have no physician," said Haggard.
As well, he noted pharmacists reported that 30 per cent of prescriptions in the Battlefords had no family physician attached to them.
The hope is that having the walk-in clinic open will reduce the load on staff at the BUH emergency room and cut down on the number of cases they have to handle. Haggard explains the ER has to handle many patients who aren't in an emergency situation because they have no family doctor.
Those patients had to be go straight to the emergency room, he said, because "there's no other access to doctors in North Battleford."
The hours of operation at the new clinic, coincide with the time "when there is a particularly high volume in the emergency room," said Haggard.
Having the clinic open will "offload pressure from the emergency room, which is something physicians are excited about."
Currently, there is no walk-in clinic option in the Battlefords. A walk-in clinic previously operated across from the Third Avenue United Church for about a year. Haggard said that clinic experienced a particularly high volume during its time in operation, showing there was a definite need for such a service.
Haggard said the idea is not to replace existing services in the community, but to add a new service that had previously existed in the community.
At the moment, the clinic will be using existing physicians in the Battlefords to provide medical services. About seven doctors are signed on to see patients at the new clinic on a rotating basis. The doctors include those who work either in the emergency room at BUH or in established practices already in the Battlefords. However, none will be taking on the patients at the walk-in clinic as regular family physicians.
The hope is to recruit more physicians to the new clinic in the future.
The doctors at the clinic will be offering general practitioner services to those seeking treatment for more routine medical problems such as colds and flu, infections and the other minor ailments.
However, no suturing will take place at the clinic. As well, the clinic will not replace BUH's role in handling more serious situations such as dealing with broken bones or life-threatening situations.
If a physician at the clinic feels it's warranted, they will be able to refer those patients to the emergency room, said Haggard.
The health clinic also enjoys close access to the Co-op Pharmacy within the mall. Haggard said the pharmacy plans to stay open during the time periods when the health clinic is open to patients.
Haggard said the decision to open a walk-in clinic has enjoyed great support from physicians and other members of the community.
He credits Sherry Gunderson, regional director for CBI Health Saskatchewan, as being instrumental in assisting on development of the clinic, and in recruiting corporate staff from Toronto to help develop some aspects of the clinic as well.
