It happens to all of us. The cold weather season arrives and brings with it a stomach ache, flu or cold. It can make the upcoming holidays miserable. The only thing worse than feeling sick over Christmas is thinking that if your symptoms don’t improve, your only option for care is the local Emergency Department. But there might be a better solution for people with minor or non-urgent conditions.
During the holiday season, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s Emergency Departments see an increased number of visits, which can mean longer waits. Knowing your options for care before sickness strikes may help you avoid an unnecessary trip to the ED, allowing staff to treat and support patients in need of emergency and urgent medical care. CKHA is recommending that residents contact their providers today to confirm their hours this holiday season.
CKHA regularly encourages those with minor or non-urgent conditions to consider alternate care locations such as their family doctors, the Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres (CHC) or local Family Health Teams (FHTs), many of which have extended or after-hour clinics for their patients throughout the year. Please note that you must be an existing patient of the CHC or FHT to access their services.
If you are not a patient of the CHC and FHT, visit the Erie St. Clair LHIN website for a list of local providers, including walk-in clinics. Visit the “Health Service Provider List” section of their site for locations and contact information of local health care providers (including CHCs and FHTs): www.eriestclairlhin.on.ca
Another option, available to anyone with an Ontario Health Card, is contacting a Registered Nurse 24/7 through Telehealth Ontario. That’s access to care right from your phone – at home, at a friend’s or in town visiting family. Call Telehealth Ontario to speak to a Registered Nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
1-866-797-0000 TTY: 1-866-797-0007
As always, call 9-1-1 if you have an emergency.
In keeping with the heightened awareness in regards to general infection control at CKHA, please do not visit a patient if you have: fever, chills, new or worse cough, shortness of breath, vomiting and/or diarrhea. You can help prevent the spread of germs by getting the influenza vaccine; and cleaning your hands upon entering the building and before and after visiting loved ones.
If you are ill and have travelled in the last 21 days to: Africa (Guinea, Liberia, Mali [Bamako], Sierra Leone), the Middle East (Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen), and/or Asia (China, Malaysia, Hebei, Beijing, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Taiwan, Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Hunan, Anhui, Henan, Shandong), please go directly to the Emergency Department.
This holiday season be prepared by knowing your options for care in Chatham-Kent. CKHA appreciates the community’s support and extends wishes for a healthy, safe and happy holiday season to all.
