More Nurse Practitioner Clinics Coming To Ontario
August 23, 2010 4:00 PM
McGuinty Government Expanding Access To Care For Patients, Families
More patients in Ontario will have access to family health care thanks to 14 new Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics being created throughout the province.
Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics, which offer a team-based approach to frontline health care, are opening in communities across the province over the coming months. It is expected that all 25 clinics in the province will be operational in 2012, with most opening up sooner. These clinics will improve access to primary care for more than 40,000 Ontarians.
Nurse practitioners are able to treat common illnesses and injuries, and order lab tests, X-rays and other diagnostic tests. Nurse practitioners work with doctors, nurses and other health care providers at the clinic.
Today's announcement is a key part of the government's Open Ontario Plan to provide more access to health care services while improving quality and accountability for patients.
QUICK FACTS
- Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics will work with public health units and other community-based health care providers to focus on services such as managing chronic disease, preventing disease, and health promotion
- Ontario's first nurse practitioner clinic opened in Sudbury in 2007 and provides primary health care to about 3,000 patients
- Ontarians can be connected to Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics through Health Care Connect and Your Health Care Options.
CONTACTS
- David Jensen
Communications Branch
416-314-6197
media@moh.gov.on.ca - For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline
1-866-532-3161
(Toll-free in Ontario only) - Media Line
Toll-free: 1-888-414-4774
GTA: 416-314-6197
media@moh.gov.on.ca - Zita Astravas
Minister's Office
416-327-9728
ontario.ca/health
"Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics are becoming an integral part of health care in Ontario. This investment means more access to quality health care closer to home for Ontarians."
– Deb Matthews
Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
"We are delighted with Minister Deb Matthews' announcement today and we are eager for these 14 NP-Led Clinics to open their doors to the public as soon as possible. Ontarians living in these communities are the real winners of today's announcement, as they will experience improved access to primary care."
– Doris Grinspun
Executive Director of RNAO
"Nurse practitioners have a vital role to play in providing valued health services to Ontarians. The NPAO welcomes the addition of 14 more nurse practitioner-led clinics."
– Paula Carere
President of the Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario
Communities
