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Not long after after Sheila Anderson, Vice-President of Integrated Regina Health with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), said Regina’s Urgent Care Centre (UCC) said was meeting the needs of patients, the SHA reduced its hours because of a lack of available doctors on Sunday.
In a news release on the evening of July 5, the SHA said UCC would only be open on July 6 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., adding it would return to its regular hours of 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, July 7.
On June 14, the UCC also reduced its hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. but did not say why. The SHA asked people to go to the Regina General Hospital or Pasqua Hospital if a medical emergency occurred while the centre was closed.
The centre has been open for just over a year and is still not operating at 24 hours a day, seven days a week as initially promised.
When the centre opened, the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s Chief Operating Officer said the centre would open in two phases. The first phase would see the centre open from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. to help the staff adapt and improve procedures.
The second phase was set to start last fall and see the centre operate 24-7, but this has yet to happen.
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In June, Anderson said the UCC was meeting the needs of patients at its current hours.
“We have plans to operate it for the hours that we are open currently,” she explained. “(We’re) always looking for opportunities if there is a need in the future to be open 24 hours.”
The centre’s current regular hours are 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., seven days a week.
Anderson assures the UCC is fully staffed and said she’s heard nothing but a positive response about the centre.
“It’s been really successful as a one-stop shop to get what you need for your urgent care needs,” she said.
“The success has been shown in the incredible number of patients that we’ve served there, and just the way that it’s been integrated into the other existing services that we have in Regina, too.”
The health authority is working on an urgent care centre in Saskatoon in a partnership with the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation.
The UCC facility in Regina cost $18.7 million and has 130 staff members, according to the SHA. (980 CJME file photo)
What is the purpose of the urgent care centre?
The Regina Urgent Care Centre is designed to provide another option for those who need urgent, non-emergency care. It is meant to help those who can’t access their primary care provider on short notice while avoiding emergency department visits for care that can be provided in another setting.
The health authority predicted the centre would divert 55 patients away from emergency rooms each day. As the centre is the first of its kind in the province, the health authority said adjustments will be made to match the needs of patients using the facility.
Who is meant to use the urgent care centre?
Anyone can use the urgent care centre. It is not a first-come, first-served basis of care, and patients are seen based on urgency.
The big question for many is when to use the urgent care centre or head to the hospital.
The urgent care centre is for serious but non-life-threatening injuries or illnesses like cuts, burns, sprains, breaks, mental health issues, flu cases and addictions services. Anyone experiencing more serious symptoms like chest pain, breathing problems or a life-threatening emergency should call 911 immediately.
The UCC’s goal is to be a one-stop shop for patients, who can receive a wide range of care all under one roof. (980 CJME file photo)
What services are offered at the urgent care centre?
Along with the mental health and addictions unit, the urgent care centre offers many on-site services including casting, crutches, X-rays, blood testing, ultrasound and more.
Staff are also prepared if a patient is sicker than they thought or deteriorates quickly. The centre is equipped with an ECG machine, a crash cart and a pediatric crash cart. Staff have all been trained in emergency care, allowing them to stabilize and transfer a patient if required.
The urgent care centre is also equipped with eye wash and shower stations. In the event of a bear spray incident, the centre can vent out the chemicals to avoid spreading it to the rest of the clinic.
— with files from Nicole Garn, 980 CJME
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