The Warman Primary Health Centre will be open next week with the Saskatchewan government marking the occasion.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority said health services at the centre will be offered by nurse practitioners, and will include things like:
- general health assessments, physical examinations and ordering of diagnostic tests
- diagnosis and treatment of common acute illnesses and injuries
- chronic disease management, including diabetes, hypertension and asthma
- immunizations and vaccinations for both children and adults
- prescribing medications and prescription renewals
- women’s health services, including exams and family planning
- health promotion and disease prevention counselling
- mental health support and counselling
- referrals to specialists and other healthcare providers
“This new primary care centre will provide the community with additional options close to home, resulting in continuous and timely access to a range of health services,” said Terry Jenson, MLA for Martensville-Warman said.
“Our government made a commitment to expanding health services in Warman and the opening of this facility is a major step forward in fulfilling that promise.”
Appointments at the centre can be booked by calling the clinic at 306-844-4380, beginning Aug. 4 at 9 a.m.
“This health centre aligns with our key priorities and commitment in ensuring Saskatchewan residents receive the best health care as close to home as possible,” said Andrew Will, chief executive of Saskatchewan Health Authority.
“Residents in Warman and the surrounding area will have expanded access to treatment and diagnosis, as well as have ongoing monitoring and support from their local care team.”
The clinic will have limited appointments available, with availability building over the coming months.
Minister of Health Paul Merriman said this centre will offer additional options for primary care, adding a strong health care system is a collaborative effort on several fronts.
He said this standalone facility for nurse practitioners was needed in the areas of Warman and Martensville, because it’s been challenging to recruit physicians.
“We had to come up with a unique solution for both Warman and Martensville,” Merriman said.
He said that the government secured the empty clinic for the nurse practitioners, and that they didn’t need to do any major renovations.
Merriman said they will be watching this clinic to see how it works for patients.
“The Nurse Practitioners’ Association has put a proposal forward to us for some other options, we’re working that out through the Ministry of Health and Saskatchewan Health Authority to see if it’s functional in some communities. These ones were ready to go.”
While he was at the facility, Merriman spoke about the nurses they were hiring in the province. Saskatchewan has been able to hire 550 nurses through the province’s nursing program since December.
He said the province has had many nurses come back from semi-retirement and retirement as well.
Merriman was asked if the incentives for foreign nurses not being made available to those already in the province looking to recertify discourages them from recertifying.
“No,” he replied, explaining the government is working with Advanced Education and the College of Medicine to make sure that any qualified person returning from either retirement or semi-retirement can be accommodated.
“I don’t see it as a determining factor, but we’re always continuing to adapt our programs to make sure that if there is somebody out there who has the skills in our health-care system that we can integrate them as fast as possible,” Merriman said.
Merriman talked about the incentives for nurses in rural areas and new graduates, saying the government had those specific areas targeted due to chronic vacancies.
He said Saskatchewan is targeting several health care positions, noting many are specific to certain communities.
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