Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic open for business

The community had good reason to celebrate today as staff of the North Bay Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (NPLC) held a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the doors to the community.

The staff at the clinic, located at the corner of Marshall Park Drive and Lakeshore Drive, is set to welcome their first patient bright and early Monday morning.

Since the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care (MHLTC) announced funding for the clinic Monday August 23, 2010, the team has been working full out approving architectural designs and policy manuals and Nurse Practitioner Terri MacDougall says it was worth sitting through every meeting getting this point.

“I don’t like looking through policies,” she says honestly.

“I’d rather have my fingers nails pulled out then look through policy manuals but certainly it’s all worth it. It has been a big learning experience for me yes absolutely.”

The clinic will focus on providing primary care services, including managing chronic conditions, preventing disease and health promotion for approximately 3,200 people who do not have a doctor. The team is made up of three nurse practitioners (NP), a registered nurse (RN), and a registered practical nurse (RPN), as well as receptionists and administrative positions. They aim to add a social worker, a dietician and a pharmacist down the road.

Nipissing MPP Monique Smith says she is thrilled to see Clinic completed and ready to provide service to the community.

“The residents of North Bay and area will benefit from more access to quality health care closer to home.”

Again Mayor Al McDonald stressed that being able to provide health care is in the top two priorities companies have when looking to locate in North Bay.




A few Quick Facts:

- Ontario’s first Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic opened in 2007 and provides primary health care to about 3,000 patients.

- These clinics are a collaborative model in which an inter-professional team of health care providers such as RNs, RPNs, family doctors and others work together to benefit the patients.

- Ontario is creating 25 Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics as part of a plan to increase access to family health care to all Ontarians.

- Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics are expected to provide care to over 40,000 patients across the province.