Health minister celebrates opening of NP-led clinic in Essex

Facility increases access to primary health care

By Andy Comber - May 11, 2011

Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews came to Essex Centre on Thursday to celebrate the grand opening of the Essex County Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.

Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews, third from right, help celebrate the grand opening of the Essex County Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, Thursday in Essex Centre. Pictured, L-R, Essex MPP Bruce Crozier, nurse practitioners Allan McCallum and Catherine Schooley, Minister Deb Matthews, nurse practitioner Cheryl Poisson and team lead Pauline Gemmel.

The clinic offers a “team-based” approach to frontline health care services by partnering with doctors and other health care professionals, Matthews said.

“I’m thrilled to be here at the opening of the Essex County Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic. And I know this clinic will be an invaluable investment for the community in Essex County for years to come.”

The clinic is a made-in-Ontario initiative designed to increase access to family primary health care, Matthews said.

“You are real pioneers,” she said. “This is going to make a huge difference for the people in the Essex area.”

“We are very, very pleased,” said Matthews.

Matthews was greeted at the clinic by Essex MPP Bruce Crozier and nurse practitioner Allan McCallum, the clinical-lead at the clinic, along with nurse practitioner Catherine Schooley, chair of the clinic’s board of directors. McCallum and Schooley, along with nurse practitioner Cheryl Poisson, worked for over a year to bring the clinic to Essex, under team lead Pauline Gemmel.

“This clinic is an innovative model that is designed to improve access to health care for our residents who currently don’t have a primary care provider,” said Schooley. “The clinic has a comprehensive, team-base approach, which will improve the health of our clients and community.

Crozier said the clinic will make it “much faster and easier” for residents to get the medical attention they need.

“I am excited,” he said. “This clinic continues to demonstrate our government’s commitment to frontline heath care.”

Colchester resident Steve Kramer, one of the first patients to register at the clinic, talked about the great care he has received at the NP-led clinic, since moving to the area.

“I have never been so well taken care of, “ he said. “This system is fantastic. Nurse practitioners are great.”

McCallum said the clinic has already registered 110 patients, but there is a capacity for at least 3,200 people.

“We are open and continuing to accept new patients for primary health care.”