The holiday season is typically one of the busiest times of the year for Chatham-Kent’s paramedics and emergency room teams and statistics show a higher than average number of patients whose conditions are non-urgent for an illness which could have been more appropriately managed by other community healthcare providers.
Chatham-Kent EMS and Chatham-Kent Health Alliance would like to remind everyone of the alternative services available in the community that can quickly and effectively treat non-urgent illnesses such as coughs, colds, ear infections, sore throats, and sprained limbs.
These alternative options include: self-care at home, calling Telehealth Ontario (1-866-797-0000), going to a walk-in clinic, or visiting a local pharmacist.
“When our requests for service are high, we need to make sure our paramedic resources are used appropriately and effectively and not tied up with non-emergency situations. Before people call 911, we want them to think of their healthcare options and where they could be better served at. However, when in doubt, they need to call 911,” stated Donald MacLellan, General Manager, Chatham-Kent EMS, in a press release.
“We want to ensure that our patients receive the right care at the right time at the right place. The Emergency Department is a very busy place with critically ill patients. For non-urgent illnesses we ask patients to avoid the emergency and visit one of the clinics in the community,” added Dr. Anthony Dixon, Chief and Program Medical Director of Emergency Medicine, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, in a media relase.
Below are a list of programs and services available over the holiday season to assist in care for non-urgent illnesses:
Thamesview Family Health Team
December 24 – Office closes at 12:00 p.m.
December 25 – Closed
December 26 – Closed
December 27, 28 – Evening clinics available
December 31 – Office closes at 12:00 p.m.
January 1 – Closed
January 2, 4 – Evening clinics available
Chatham-Kent Family Health Team
December 24 – Offices closes at 12:00 p.m.
December 25 – Closed
December 26 – Closed
December 27 – Regular hours of operation for scheduled and same day visits
December 28 – Regular hours of operation for scheduled and same day visits
December 31 – Closed
January 1 – Closed
January 2 – Regular hours resume
Chatham-Kent Community Health Centre
December 24 – Open until 3:30 p.m.
December 25, 26 – Closed
December 27, 28 – Regular hours of operation
December 31 – Open until 3:30 p.m.
January 1 – Closed
January 2 – Regular hours resume
Tilbury District Family Health Team
December 24, 27 and 28 – Walk-in same day access/urgent care from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
December 25, 26, 29 and January 1 – Closed
January 2 – Regular office and urgent care hours resume
You can visit www.eriestclairhealthline.ca for a full listing of programs and services available throughout Chatham-Kent and the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integrated Network (LHIN) region.
