By Sarah Wallace

Spiritwood area getting better access to urgent care

Sep 13, 2015 | 11:42 AM

Starting in the middle of September residents of Spiritwood and surrounding area will have better access to urgent care at the Spiritwood and District Health Complex.

Beginning on Sept 15 there will be a physician or nurse practitioner available six days a week at the Collaborative Emergency Center (CEC).

This will give residents greater access to urgent care needs and there will even be a nurse available on Sundays and statutory holidays to help with urgent care needs.

“The Collaborative Emergency Center is a great example of patient-centered care that provides stable, timely access to health services in the community,” Minister responsible for Rural and Remote Health Greg Ottenbreit said in a release.

“They shorten wait times and reduce emergency room visits for patients while providing a better work-life balance for our excellent care providers. Spiritwood is one of five CECs in Saskatchewan being introduced to help build and maintain excellent primary health care throughout the province.”

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Brett Enns, vice president of Primary and Community Care said in a release, “We are very excited that we are now able to increase access to health care services. We appreciate the support of the physicians, the nurse practitioners, and our staff members and the community to help us enhance the services available in Spiritwood. We also thank the government of Saskatchewan for their support of this new service.”

Minister of Advanced Education Scott Moe and MLA for Rosthern-Shellbrook added in the release, “Thank you to Spiritwood and surrounding communities, healthcare providers and the health region for their effort to improve access to health care services for the residents in the region. The opening of this CEC is another example of how great ideas and partnerships will help keep Saskatchewan strong.”

The CEC will make a physician or nurse practitioner available for appointments or urgent and unexpected health concerns over the following hours:

            Monday to Friday – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

            Saturday – 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

A registered nurse will also be available for urgent and unexpected health concerns Saturday nights from 4:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. and on Sunday’s and Stat holidays the nurse will be available from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Any patients looking to make an appointment can call 306-883-4440.

The primary health care clinic hours will also change to Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As of right now however there are no urgent or emergency services available in Spiritwood at night or after clinic hours.

swallace@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahthesquid