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New Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics

McGuinty Government Adding 14 More Clinics, Increasing Access To Care

May 10, 2010

News

Ontario is calling for applications for 14 new Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics as part of the government's commitment to increase access to family health care.

The call for applications closes on June 25, 2010. The new clinics will be awarded in the summer of 2010.

New Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic applicants will be selected from groups or individuals from across the province such as registered non-profit organizations, local community-based organizations and nurse practitioners that:

• Improve access to quality family health care by providing comprehensive, accessible, and coordinated services to populations who do not have access to a primary care provider
• Meet local patient needs through enhanced health promotion, disease prevention and chronic disease management
• Demonstrate their ability to be operational within a reasonable timeframe
• Support the provision of French language health services, where applicable

Nurse practitioner-led clinics offer a team-based approach to frontline health care. Nurse practitioners are able to treat common illnesses and injuries, and order lab tests, X-rays and other diagnostic tests. They can also refer patients to specialists. They will work with doctors, nurses and other health care providers at the clinic.

Expanding the number of Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics is a key part of the government’s Open Ontario Plan to provide more access to health care services while improving quality and accountability for patients.

QUOTES

“Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics are another important aspect of our government’s goal towards ensuring all Ontarians have access to quality health care close to home.”
-- Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

"We are pleased about this next call for Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics. It means that Ontarians will benefit from increased access to family health care as well as the comprehensive, team-based approach these clinics provide."
-- Paula Carere, President, Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario

"We are thrilled that access to comprehensive primary care is being expanded in Ontario. Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics are an important service to improve access for people that have no primary care provider. These clinics have the expertise to prevent illness, manage chronic conditions and treat people when ill."
-- David McNeil, President of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario is committed to having 25 new Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics in operation by 2012.
• There are currently 11 Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics in various stages of implementation – with the first one due to open in May 2010. 
• Since 2003, the government has more than doubled the number of education spaces for primary health care nurse practitioners - from 75 to 176.

LEARN MORE

Read more about Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics.

Members of the media :

Ivan Langrish, 416-326-3986
Minister's Office

Andrew Morrison , 416-314-6197
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
ontario.ca/health-news