Port Colborne Site - from ER to Urgent Care July 6

Lead StoryWe’re Still Here to Care for You... Port Colborne Urgent Care staff from left –
Dr. Jeannie Walton, RN Jack Benes, RN Patti Tufnell

Port Colborne Site is now providing round-the-clock care with a 24/7 Urgent Care Centre, serving people of all ages with minor illnesses and injuries. The Urgent Care Centre has services such as x-rays, lab tests and pharmacy. This conversion from an ER took place July 6 and a similar conversion is planned for Douglas Memorial Site in Fort Erie for September/09.

Residents of Port Colborne, Wainfleet and surrounding communities receive care at the Port Colborne Site Urgent Care Centre from physicians and registered nurses, who treat non-life-threatening injuries and ailments.

Urgent Vs Emergency Care - What’s the Difference?

  • A full-service ER takes every level of patient, from those suffering a life-threatening heart attack or car accident, to those with a minor ear infection or sprained ankle.
  • Urgent or Prompt Care Centres (these terms are interchangeable) are for those patients who have bumps and bruises, mild infections or injuries.
  • Niagara EMS paramedics do not take emergency cases to Urgent Care Centres. Urgent Care physicians do not admit patients to an inpatient unit, although they may keep a patient for several hours for observation. Patients who come to an Urgent Care Centre but require more detailed diagnostic tests or treatment are transferred to a full-service ER.
ER Departments Treat Urgent Care Centres Treat
  • Chest pain and/or shortness of breath
  • Broken bones
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Dizziness
  • Stroke symptoms - Sudden, severe headaches, vision problems, sudden weakness, numbness and/or tingling in the face, arm or leg, trouble speaking, or dizziness [Note – Niagara’s Stroke Centre is at Greater Niagara General Site]
  • Numbness in your arms or hands
  • Major injuries
  • Mental health issues

Call 911 if you have severe chest pain, stroke symptoms or a serious emergency. Ambulances bring patients to Emergency Departments.
  • Simple fractures, sprains, sports injuries
  • Cuts that may need stitches
  • Minor burns
  • Minor abdominal pain (nausea,vomiting, flu)
  • Ear, nose and throat problems
  • Coughs and colds
  • Eye problems

Urgent Care Centres have access to services such as x-rays, lab tests and pharmacy.

Ambulances do not bring emergency cases to Urgent Care Centres.

Urgent Care Facts

  • The doctors/nurses staffing the Urgent Care Centres will have the same training as ER staff, with the same equipment – they can handle any case that comes in.
  • The majority (up to 95%) of the patients who now come to these sites for their emergency care will continue to be served in Fort Erie and Port Colborne.
  • Serious emergency and life-threatening cases will go by ambulance or car to full-service ERs in Welland or Niagara Falls or beyond, as their medical condition dictates.
  • For Port Colborne and Fort Erie sites, the main differences in the service are that ambulances will no longer bring emergency patients to these sites and patients will no longer be admitted directly to inpatient beds at these sites.
  • As has been the case for the past few years, patients will be transferred to a larger Niagara Health site for consultations with specialists and when they need sophisticated diagnostic tests.
  • At Niagara Health Emergency and Urgent/Prompt Care departments, new medical directives allow specially-trained RNs to order blood work and diagnostic tests to help reduce the wait time for patients being assessed and treated.

Know Your Options

The Ontario government has launched a new website to let communities know about the primary health-care services available to them. Learn more about your options – go to www.ontario.ca/healthcareoptions and click on the grey Find Your Health Care Options box or call 1-866-330-6206.

For more details on emergency and urgent care, go to http://www.niagarahealth.on.ca/urgent-and-emergency-care/.

Learn More - Public Info Sessions

In addition to detailed information online, the NHS has launched a major communication initiative to inform and educate the public about what the changes mean for patient care. Billboard signage, an info brochure drop to 12,000 households, newspaper display advertising, a Niagara Health newsletter, speaking engagements, public info sessions and more have been held in Port Colborne and Wainfleet in May, June and July.

This focused communication effort now moves to the Fort Erie community. Naturally, there are many questions about the transition from Emergency to Urgent Care in our Lake Erie communities. More than a hundred people have already attended a July 15th Public Info Session in Fort Erie, and a session in September is being arranged. Hear from clinical leaders on the difference between Emergency and Urgent Care, the hospital-based services available, what changes mean for residents, and more. There will be a question and answer period and hand-outs will be available. Free admission and parking at all sessions.

Public Info Sessions

Fort Erie Public Information Session
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009
(location and times to be confirmed - keep checking back)

Our Success Factors