Wednesday, March 08, 2023
Hospital expands clinic, urgent care now available
Markham Stouffville Hospital brings a primary and urgent care clinic to the community to ensure that anyone who needs to receive care can do so.
The clinic is a collaboration between Oak Valley Health (which includes MSH) and Health For All Family Health Team, in collaboration with the Eastern York Region North Durham Ontario Health Team (EYRND OHT).
“The opening of the Community Urgent Care Clinic reinforces our commitment to delivering an extraordinary experience by providing expanded urgent care services to patients and families,” says Jo-anne Marr, president & CEO of Oak Valley Health. “We’ve heard loud and clear that this is a much-needed resource, and we are working with our partners to ensure we are providing the communities we serve with the health care services they need.”
The Community Urgent Care Clinic is an expansion of the COVID-19, Cold and Flu Care Clinic (CCFCC) that previously existed at the hospital. The CCFCC allowed patients to bypass the Emergency Department to directly and quickly receive assessment and care for COVID-19. In response to the overwhelming success of and positive patient feedback from the CCFCC, this new clinic will also be able to care for patients spanning a wider array of health concerns, in addition to continuing to provide COVID-19 swabs, assessment, and offer therapeutics for those who require them.
“We will be able to assess symptoms that you would usually see your primary care provider for including but not limited to, general discomfort, cough, fever, wounds, infections, acute pain, new symptoms of skin issues, ear aches, other aches and pains, as well as preventative care and mental health support,” says Andrea Groff, executive director of Health For All Family Health Team.
Patients of all ages and health conditions can be seen at the clinic. This is especially beneficial for the vulnerable patient population including children and the elderly. The clinic will also be able to see patients without OHIP coverage, such as newcomers to Canada. Patients will also be able to receive coordinated access to care via virtual follow-up and specialist referrals as needed, offering peace of mind knowing they will be supported throughout their entire health diagnosis journey.
“What makes this clinic model unique is that not only are we able to see patients who do not have a primary care provider to coordinate their care, we also have access and are able to refer to partners in the community – such as acute care, specialists, and diagnostic imaging – to ensure the patient care is fully supported,” says Dr. Cristina Popa, medical director and physician lead of EYRND OHT. “It is our goal to see as many patients through this clinic as we can so that we can alleviate the emergency department and help people feel better faster.”
The Community Urgent Care Clinic is located at Markham Stouffville Hospital, inside entrance D and near parking lot 6. The clinic is open daily between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Registration is required for same-day and next-day in-person appointments at the Community Urgent Care Clinic through the online booking system. Walk-ins will also be available.
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