Specifics on the new screening clinic in Gatineau
Specifics on the new screening clinic in Gatineau
Le Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) de l’Outaouais wanted to reaffirm the functions of the new designated screening clinic (CDE) for COVID-19, which recently opened in Gatineau.
The directrice intérimaire des services multidisciplinaires et à la communauté, Ann Rondeau:
Rural hospital emergencies such as Shawville, Papineau, Wakefield and Maniwaki are also considered to be screening clinics. Customers in these territories will be referred to the clinic nearest their residence.
For the moment, according to Rondeau, the volume of customers in hospitals remain low for the moment, which does not require additional resources.
Ann Rondeay added that hospitals in rural areas are currently able to absorb their clientele and a further evaluation will be carried out in the near futur.
The clienteles that are given priority in screenings are:
– P1: Hospitalized patients and those arriving in the emergency room who have a clinical or radiological diagnosis compatible with Covid-19
– P2: Symptomatic health professionals who are in contact with patients
– P3: Residents of CHSLDs or seniors in private residences who are symptomatic or who have been exposed to an outbreak
– P4: symptomatic people living in remote regions, in an isolated community or from First Nations / Inuit people, who have limited access to a hospital
– P5: First responders or symptomatic public security workers or other essential service workers
– P6: Some symptomatic people in the community, on the direct recommendation of the director of public health
Remember: after opening the COVID-19 evaluation clinic in Gatineau, the screening clinic in the Hull sector was no longer “necessary”, considering that the screening volume decreased with the new criterias in place. The CISSS de l’Outaouais therefore closed the clinic last Thursday.
The new CDE allows the population to consult a doctor and supports screening for COVID-19, when required. Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19, the flu, or symptoms of gastroenteritis can see a doctor there. The objective is to reduce the number of people in emergencies and to offer an alternative to the population for a safe medical consultation in the current context of this pandemic and to keep the Family Medicine Groups (GMF) and medical clinics free from the risk of contagion.
The evaluation clinic is accessible by appointment only, via 1-819-644-4545 or 1-877-644-4545 (toll free). Up to 150 clients can be met per day in these clinics. According to Rondeau, the waiting time can reach up to 24 hours before obtaining an appointment.
Of the 129 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Outaouais, 5 and less are in the MRC Pontiac. For any information on Covid-19, the public is invited to consult the Quebec government’s website at www.Quebec.ca/coronavirus.
Those with symptoms or concerns about COVID-19 can contact the dedicated information line at 1-877-644-4545.
