Group Health Centre’s new nurse practitioner clinic to open with 'soft launch' next week

Group Health Centre officials are hoping to establish the facility’s new nurse practitioner clinic to care for thousands of de-rostered GHC patients as soon as possible.

Funding for the clinic was announced by Sault MPP Ross Romano Wednesday afternoon.

That announcement for the Access Care Clinic was made before 10,176 GHC patients - many of them longtime, elderly patients - were set to be de-rostered from the centre May 31 due to a shortage in family doctors.

“The total funding will be for $2.8 million a year to allow them to operate a nurse practitioner clinic through the Group Health Centre. That clinic will be able to service 11,200 patients,” Romano said at Wednesday’s announcement.

The funding is annualized, but it is limited to a two-year term and ends in 2026.

The GHC nurse practitioner clinic - called the Access Care Clinic (ACC) - will have a soft launch on Monday June 3.

The Access Care Clinic will be located at 170 East St. and will initially operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The clinic will offer only same-day appointments at first.

It is GHC’s aim to start off with four nurse practitioners at the clinic and increase that number over the next two years.

“We would like to have as many nurse practitioners as we can but there’s a shortage of primary care providers so our intent is to put out postings for full-time, part-time and casual to attract nurse practitioners within and outside our community. What we anticipate in the short term is that we would use our existing nurse practitioners,” said Lil Silvano, GHC president and CEO in a phone interview with SooToday after Wednesday’s announcement.

“I would say to start we would have two to three nurse practitioners available. Typically a nurse practitioner carries about a thousand patients when they’re providing primary care so I think our goal is to get four to five nurse practitioners. It’s more of a team-based approach here so we’re also going to be bringing on registered nurses to help and support as well.”

“Within a couple of years we’re going to add to that number, so it could be another two or three nurse practitioners and recruitment never stops for primary care at Group Health Centre,” added Giordan Zin, GHC spokesperson.

Elected leaders and local health-care officials are in agreement that a new Group Health Centre nurse practitioner clinic to care for de-rostered GHC patients is a good first step, but that more needs to be done to fix the Sault’s shortage of primary care providers.

“This is not the end of the road,” Romano acknowledged Wednesday. 

“We’re in a better place today than we were yesterday. It’s important to note that those individuals who had significant concerns and fears as to what they were going to do come June 1st, they now have an answer. They now know where they’re going to be able to get their services and that’s an important first step but the work isn’t done. We want to get to a point where everyone has access to a primary care provider.”

“We recognize that this is not a sustainable or long-term solution,” Silvano said at Wednesday’s announcement.

“It is one step towards our long-term goal. To achieve our goal we will rely on the continued engagement and support from our MPP and the Ministry of Health to address the primary care challenges in our community. Our focus remains firmly on supporting our providers and recruiting new physicians and nurse practitioners,” Silvano said.

“Today is an important first step.We look forward to continuing to work with MPP Romano, the Ministry of Health and all of our community partners,” added Dr. Jodie Stewart, President and CEO of Algoma District Medical Group. 

The nurse practitioner clinic is also a move designed to keep Sault Area Hospital’s emergency department from being overwhelmed by de-rostered GHC patients.

“It is important to recognize that this support alone cannot fully address the complexities of the health care landscape. Today’s announcement however does provide one piece towards a comprehensive solution to the issue of access to primary care services,” said Dr. John Heintzman, Sault Area Hospital chief of staff. 

“We all know there’s more work to do,” said Sault Mayor Matthew Shoemaker.

“Up until yesterday there were stories coming out about what’s going to happen on Saturday and I think this puts a lot of minds at ease. There is work to continue to ensure long term sustainability on this file but this allows those in the most precarious situation at the end of this week to breathe a little easier knowing they will be able to get services in a way similar to the way they have in the past,” Shoemaker said.

Wednesday’s announcement comes after some other positive news concerning efforts to address the Sault’s chronic doctor shortage.

Former GHC doctors Kiran Waqas and Manjeet Singh will begin treating their 3,000 patients at the new Great Lakes Clinic at 710 Second Line East beginning on Tuesday, June 4.   

The Sault Ste. Marie region has also secured five NOSM University graduates to Primary Care resident positions beginning July 1.

Romano also announced in February that over $1.1 million in funding would connect more than 4,500 people to primary care in Sault Ste. Marie by working with Sault Community Health Centre to add a new site and with Maamwesying North Shore Community Health Services to expand existing services. 

Romano announced in January that a local task force would be created to come up with ways to cure the Sault’s doctor shortage.

“That task force’s work will continue,” Romano said Wednesday.