New nursing clinic coming to Wallaceburg’s hospital

The Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) announced its plan to open a new nursing clinic at the Sydenham Campus in Wallaceburg.

LHIN officials say the new clinic will ensure care is provided closer to home for many Wallaceburg and area residents.

“Health system integration is a key part of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Patients First legislation and is one of our key priorities,” stated Ralph Ganter, CEO, Erie St. Clair LHIN, in a press release released Wednesday morning.

“By working together with the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on this initiative, we are able to make home and community care services more accessible for the people of Wallaceburg and area, in a setting they are comfortable and familiar with.”

The LHIN currently operates nursing clinics in Chatham, Windsor, and Sarnia for its home and community care patients.

The Wallaceburg clinic is expected to open in April 2018 and will provide nursing services including IV treatment and wound care.

“We are very excited to partner with the Erie St. Clair LHIN at our Wallaceburg site,” stated Lori Marshall, President & CEO, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, in a press release.

“Having the home and community care clinic operate out of the Wallaceburg campus provides access to the community who would otherwise need to travel for these services. The future vision for the Wallaceburg site includes opportunities to co-locate with other health service providers. The building has the space and so the opportunity to partner with the LHIN to serve their patients closer to home makes sense now and in the future.”

LHIN officials say this will not be a walk-in clinic and is specifically for LHIN home and community care patients with scheduled appointments.

In 2016-17, the Erie St. Clair LHIN served 39,474 home and community care patients.

Of that, 5,484 patients were seen in either the Chatham, Windsor, or Sarnia clinics, LHIN officials say.

The new clinic will serve LHIN patients in North Kent and South Lambton, meaning some patients currently travelling to the Chatham clinic for treatment will be able to get care closer to home in Wallaceburg.

“This announcement is very good news for the Wallaceburg campus,” stated Dr. Anthony Dixon, Chief and Medical Director of Emergency Services, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, in a press release.

“Our medical staff believe in partnerships such as this as it allows our patients and the community to access services close to home. This shows our commitment to the campus and to the community. We look forward to more collaboration in the future.”

The clinic will be located on the first floor of the Wallaceburg site, in the ambulatory care area.

“The Erie St. Clair LHIN has been coordinating home and community care for about six months and is committed to patient-centred care,” stated Cathy Kelly, VP, Home and Community Care, Erie St. Clair LHIN, in a press release.

“By expanding our nursing clinic services to Wallaceburg, we are bringing care closer to home for patients in the North Kent and South Lambton area, while working toward our goals of improving the patient and family experience, and creating healthy communities.”

LHIN official say once up and running, it is anticipated that more than 100 patients at that time will be able to receive care at this clinic.

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