Minor injury and illness clinic planned for Brandon
Brandon will be home to the first minor injury and illness clinic outside of Winnipeg. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and Health, Seniors and Long Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara made the announcement at Brandon Regional Health Centre on March 27.
The Brandon clinic will be staffed by physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses who will provide primary health-care services and support for minor health-care concerns. Patients will be able to book same-day appointments and connect with health-care providers via virtual care. It will offer extended hours to fit families’ schedules, operating 12 hours a day, seven days a week. An interim location will open in Brandon this fall, while Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) identifies a permanent home.
“When your child needs stitches or you have the flu, a crowded ER should not be your only option,” said Kinew. “This delivers on our commitment to offer more primary care options in neighbourhoods across the province, starting with this project in Brandon. The clinic will offer timely and convenient care for families and seniors, while reducing pressure on Brandon’s ER. Longer hours mean more options for busy parents so you can spend less time in the waiting room and more time on what matters most.”
The Province estimates that the minor injury and illness clinic will see over 700 people every week once open. PMH CEO Brian Schoonbaert said collaborative efforts continue with health-care providers in an effort to staff the Clinic so it can open as soon as possible.
“Firstly, we will be using an inter-disciplinary team approach, where we are exploring all collaborative care models to support the required staffing complement. We continue discussions with our nurses so they can work to their full scope of practice and support the physicians and nurse practitioners in things like treatments and assessments. This will allow the primary care providers to see more clients.
“And, we are actively and aggressively recruiting physicians and continue to support our version of the “Grow your Own ‘Nurse Practitioner’ Program.”
Schoonbaert added, the Clinic will also be staffed with non-clinical support, which includes administrative, housekeeping, materials management and security services. He says PMH will continue working with health partners and stakeholders to attain the required space for the Clinic.