November 9, 2010 - People in Thunder Bay now have access to a new nurse practitioner-led clinic which will provide peace of mind to approximately 3,200 people in the community who will be able to access health care services close by.

Nurse practitioner-led clinics offer a team-based approach to frontline health care services by partnering with doctors and other health care professionals. The addition of nurse practitioner-led clinics is part of the province’s plan to increase access to health care services for all Ontarians.

The new Lakehead nurse practitioner-led clinic in Thunder Bay will have four nurse practitioners on staff. This new clinic is one of 25 nurse practitioner-led clinics that the province will open by the end of 2012. Upon opening, the Lakehead nurse practitioner-led clinic will be Electronic Medical Record (EMR) ready.

Nurse practitioner-led clinics are a key part of the government’s Open Ontario Plan to provide more access to health care services while improving quality and accountability for patients.

QUOTES
“Nurse Practitioner-led Clinics are a made-in-Ontario initiative to increase access to primary care. These clinics are a collaborative model our province is extremely proud of. I’m thrilled to be here at the opening the Lakehead Nurse Practitioner-led Clinic and I’m sure this clinic will be an invaluable health care investment for the community in Thunder Bay for years to come.”
– Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

“The Lakehead Nurse Practitioner-led Clinic continues to build upon the work of our government to increase access to primary care and by doing so improves patient outcomes and decreases pressures on our emergency rooms. This clinic opening is very good news for the community in Thunder Bay.”
– Bill Mauro, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan

"This new clinic is going to make it much faster and easier for people in Thunder Bay to get medical attention, especially if they don't have a family doctor. It's a solid demonstration of our government's commitment to front line health care."
– Michael Gravelle, MPP Thunder Bay-Superior North

"We are thrilled to be opening our clinic. People in Thunder Bay will benefit from increased access to primary health care as well as the comprehensive, team-based approach our clinic provides."
– Lynne Thibeault, President, Board of Directors, Lakehead Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic

“I am excited to see the opening of another nurse practitioner-led clinic in Ontario. The Lakehead clinic will improve health care services throughout the region and provide the residents of Thunder Bay with greater access to care.”
– Michelle Acorn, President, Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario

QUICK FACTS

• The province recently awarded 14 nurse practitioner-led clinics as part of a new call for applications.
• Since 2003, the government has more than doubled the number of education spaces for primary health care nurse practitioners.
• Between 2003 and 2009, the total number of doctors in the North West LHIN increased by 6.5 per cent.
• The redeveloped Health Care Options web site is giving Ontarians a brand new way to access and learn about the many health care options -- things like family health teams and nurse practitioner-led clinics -- in their communities.

LEARN MORE
Read more about nurse practitioner-led clinics.

For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline at 1-866-532-3161 (Toll-free in Ontario only)