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In need of non-emergency health care? Check these options

January 22, 2024   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

Often, people will visit the emergency department to seek health care for a condition that may not be an emergency.

This will increase wait times for other visitors and tie up valuable resources when they may best be needed elsewhere.

Stevenson Memorial Hospital encourages dialling 9-1-1 for immediate life-threatening conditions or injuries. However, they also suggest alternatives when you have a condition that is not serious and does not require immediate attention.

Your first consideration should be your family doctor. If you do not have a family doctor or your doctor is unavailable, you can consider the following options.

Pharmacy

Many symptoms can be controlled with over-the-counter medications. A pharmacist in Ontario can now offer prescriptions for:

· Acid reflux · Cold sores

· Dermatitis · Hay fever

· Impetigo · Insect bites and hives

· Menstrual cramps · Oral thrush

· Pink eye · Sprains and strains

· Tick bites · Urinary tract infections

Health811

Health811 is a free, secure, and confidential service that Ontarians can access 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to receive health advice from a registered nurse. Call 811 (TTY:1-886-797-0007, or online at Ontario.ca/health811.

Virtual Urgent Care Portal

A virtual appointment with a nurse practitioner may be right for you if your medical condition/injury is non-life-threatening. You are unable to get a timely appointment with your family doctor or do not have a family doctor.

Online booking only at: https://regional-virtual-urgent-care.ca.

Mental Health

For mental health or crisis services, you can call the 24-hour Crisis Line at 1-855-310-COPE. Also visit http://www.stevensonhospital.ca/performance__accountability/mental_health_services.html for additional resources.

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