Expanded services offered at region’s new COVID, Cold and Flu Care Clinic
The Regional COVID Care Clinic operated by Grand River Hospital is opening its doors at a new location and has expanded its services to help combat additional respiratory diseases.
On Thursday, the clinic’s name changed to the Regional COVID, Cold, and Flu Care Clinic (CCFCC). The clinic also moved from 66 Pinebush Road in Cambridge to 50 Sportsworld Drive in Kitchener’s south end.
“With the recent influx of influenza and RSV and other conditions in our community, we are now being able to see people with cold, cough and flu symptoms as well as COVID in our clinic,” said Vickie Murray, director of the Regional CCFCC.
Grand River Hospital said the new name reflects the expanded services offered by the clinic.
Despite the name and location change, the clinic still offers COVID-19 services.
“For us, nothing has changed for COVID. We are still seeing COVID patients for testing when eligible and for assessment and treatment when eligible,” said Murray.
Murray added: “We're adding extra staff, extra hours and we're adding extra capacity to be able to expand and meet the needs of our community.”
- The clinic will offer up to 400 visits per week to support community members who:
- Have moderate or worsening COVID-19, cold, or influenza-like symptoms who cannot manage safely at home; or
- Have symptoms and are at higher risk of severe disease, who may need COVID-19 testing and/or treatments; or
- Have COVID-19, cold, or influenza-like symptoms and do not have a regular primary care clinician; or
- Are otherwise eligible for COVID-19 PCR testing (ie. health care workers).
- Those with severe symptoms should continue to seek care at their nearest emergency department, or by calling 911.
“There are other conditions in our community right now that are causing a lot of stresses and strain on our healthcare system,” said Murray.
Despite the positive reinforcement for the local healthcare system, the hope is that the services will provide a safety net that does not need to be used.
“The long-term vision in terms of what our community needs for COVID care is still a big question mark. And I think we would all love to see a need for this completely disappear,” said Murray.
Bonnie Camm, executive vice-president of clinical services at Grand River Hospital said the expanded support can support more community-based care.
“Expanding the services we offer to include cold, and flu symptoms allows us to support more community-based care,” said Camm in a news release on Wednesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.