The challenge of finding a primary health-care provider in Oro-Medonte just got a little easier.
The Huronia Nurse Practitioner-led Clinic, located at 3331 Line 4 N., has added another nurse practitioner to the roster, meaning 800 to 1,000 residents will now have the opportunity to find their key medical resource.
It was one of three positive announcements Malcolm Morum, executive director/nurse practitioner at the clinic, shared with Oro-Medonte council on Wednesday when he presented an update on the clinic to local politicians.
“Our partnerships have evolved since the last time we were here,” Morum told council, referring to his Feb. 14 appearance. “We had the opportunity to acquire some funding for human resources — a nurse practitioner — with our local Ontario Health Team in Orillia and were able to hire a full-time nurse practitioner to the clinic.
“The nurse practitioner started not too long ago and we’re already attached 100 patients to the clinic," he added.
According to Morum, the clinic’s goal is to assign 800 patients to the new nurse practitioner over the course of the next year.
To be considered, local residents can register with Health Care Connect (available by clicking here), a centralized wait list.
“We draw from that list,” Morum said. “For example, with the next 100 patients that we’re going to be asking for within one or two weeks to enrol to the clinic, we’ll be asking for that from Health Care Connect.”
He said there’s usually a four- to six-week wait time between registering and seeing a health-care provider for the first time.
“Health Care Connect has quite a burden of requests right now,” Morum said. “There’s a significant demand for primary care. In this area, plus Barrie and Orillia, there’s a significant wait list.”
Morum’s second piece of good news — a children’s clinic — is still waiting for final approval.
He said the primary site is going to be in Orillia, on West Street, but the Oro-Medonte facility will have the opportunity to have some of those resources.
“Basically, it’s representative of supporting children who are between the ages of zero and 18,” Morum said. “These people are requiring acute episodic, which represents conditions like rashes, upper respiratory conditions, anything along those lines where they can come to the clinic and get services.
“This may be anybody in the surrounding area who has children who are able to come to the clinic and be able to access services and care," he added.
Morum wrapped up his presentation with a third piece of good news — the clinic has secured two additional funding streams through small projects with Lakehead University and Ontario Works in Orillia.
Suitably impressed, Oro-Medonte Mayor Randy Greenlaw assured Morum that the township was onside and willing to help where it could.
“Whatever we can do to best position your team and our constituents to potential opportunities that come down the pipe and be ready for it, the better off we all are,” Greenlaw said.
