A temporary seasonal care clinic is now open at the hospital in Chatham.
The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) and Chatham-Kent EMS are partnering up to provide that service out of a mobile trailer outside of the CKHA's emergency department in Chatham.
The goal is to free up space in the Emergency Departments during the seasonal surge of cold, flu, and respiratory illness by providing care for residents who don't have a primary care provider like a family doctor or can't be seen by their family doctor or a nurse practitioner in a "timely manner."
Officials at the CKHA said the clinic will provide services for individuals with cough, cold, and flu symptoms along with other minor ailments listed below:
Urinary tract infection Ear ache Rash Need for prescription refill Eye infection General minor complaint
The hours that the clinic is open will vary from week to week.
For now, the CKHA said it will be open on November 24-26 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and again on November 29 and December 1-3 during those same hours.
Anyone who is attending the clinic will need to visit the registration desk at the Emergency Department first and will be seen on a walk-in basis (no appointments).
Before you decide whether you should visit the seasonal care clinic, you are asked to call your primary care provider if you think you or your child needs medical care.
CKHA officials said you should also consider visiting the seasonal care clinic if your symptoms or your child's symptoms are getting worse or are not improving or if you have been directed to visit the clinic by any health professional.
You can find more information on the clinic and an updated list of its hours of operation by clicking here.
