Health care services in Central Newfoundland are expanding with new virtual urgent care services at the Bay D’Espoir Medical Clinic in St. Alban’s.
Virtual urgent care services will begin on September 11 and available from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. treating patients with urgent care needs by an 811 HealthLine nurse practitioner virtually and other health care professionals locally, such as nurses.
The virtual care services will provide additional access for non-emergent patients and ease pressures on emergency departments by treating patients presenting with urgent, non-life-threatening medical injuries and illnesses, such as:
- Sprains and strains.
- New and worsening non-emergent pain.
- Fever and infections.
- Less serious childhood illness and injury, cuts, wound or skin conditions.
More information on urgent care can be found here.
The virtual nurse practitioner services complement similar services provided virtually in Stephenville, Harbour Breton, New-Wes-Valley, Baie Verte, and Gander.
For more information on virtual care services, visit virtualcarenl.ca.
Quotes
“This is a great step forward for patients and health care professionals in the St. Alban’s area. Urgent care provided by a nurse practitioner will help shorten patient wait times in emergency departments. This virtual care will complement services already in these communities as we continue to recruit more health care professionals.”
Honourable John Hogan, KC
Minister of Health and Community Services
“Adding virtual care to the Connaigre Peninsula Health Centre in Harbour Breton has helped people in the region to get the care they need. Adding virtual urgent care to the Bay d’Espoir Medical Clinic in St. Alban’s will mean people in the Bay d’Espoir area will also be able to get the care they need when they need it. I would like to thank previous Minister Osborne and now Minister Hogan for their commitment over the past several months in making this a reality.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Digital Government and Service NL
MHA for Fortune Bay-Cape La Hune
“As NL Health Services continues to enhance the health care system for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, we are pleased to introduce virtual urgent care at the Bay d’Espoir Medical Clinic. This new service will greatly improve access to non-emergent health care services, supporting residents of the St. Alban’s area to receive care closer to home thereby reducing travel times. Given our province’s diverse and vast geography, leveraging modern technology is key to connecting patients with health care providers and improving access to service.”
Craig Davis
Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer (Interim) for the Central Zone
Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services
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Learn more
VirtualCareNL.ca
Provincial Government Increasing Access to Health Care Through Virtual Care Contract
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