On March 17th, the Peterborough Family Health Team (PFHT) opened a new clinic to help serve the roughly 32,000 residents in the Peterborough area who do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner. The PFHT is a team-based primary care organization serving patients across the region bringing together family physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, dietitians, pharmacists, and other health professionals to provide coordinated care.
Called the Connect Clinic, this rebranded primary care initiative it will provide care to patients while they wait to get a permanent family doctor or nurse practitioner. Local family doctors and nurse practitioners provide timely access to acute, chronic, and preventative care at the clinic’s two Peterborough locations; at 185King St, Suite 500 and at 555 George St. North. Services also include mental health navigation support offered in partnership with the local Canadian Mental Health Association. The clinic works with patients to build a complete medical record, which will follow them to their new family physician, nurse practitioner and primary care team.
“This clinic is a response to the healthcare crisis in our community,” said Duff Sprague, CEO of PFHT. “Area residents without a family doctor or nurse practitioner now have a place to go for in-person, quality care.” The Clinic is funded by Ontario Health and works in partner-ship with Health Care Connect and the Peterborough Ontario Health Team.
“The Connect Clinic care is delivered by family doctors and nurse practitioners, some of whom have come out of retirement to help our community,” added Sprague. “With the building of a medical record, clinic patients area step ahead when the opportunity to make a long-term connection to a family doctor, nurse practitioner becomes available.” PFHT is grateful to continue being the home for patients who don’t have a family doctor or nurse practitioner while they wait for a long-term connection with family physicians and primary care organizations.
This is NOT a walk-in clinic. All patients must book an intake appointment before being treated, where the clinic will collect your medical information including your health history in order to be able to offer the ongoing medical care patients need. Medical services are provided in person by local family doctors, nurse practitioners and PFHT registered practical nurses. Patient medical records will be updated with each test and treatment, building a permanent chart that will move with the patient when they become permanently attached to a primary health care provider. Once you have registered, patients can secure in-person appointments the day they call or the next day.
Appointments will address regular health issues such as birth control and family planning, immunizations, muscle and joint pain, sore ears/throat, blood pressure checks, COPD/CHF flare-ups, digestive issues, and more. These clinics do not offer emergency care, narcotic or controlled drug prescriptions, stitches, bone resetting or minor surgical procedures. Appointments can be booked by telephone at 705-651-4866or online atwww.peterboroughfht.com/connect-clinic.