Premier Dalton McGuinty came to Sudbury on Thursday to see a big slice of the future of health care in Ontario.
Nurse practitioners Roberta Heale and Marilyn Butcher were waiting at the door when McGuinty arrived at the Sudbury and District Nurse Practitioner Clinic, the first of its kind in the province.
Heale, Butcher and four of their co-workers are registered nurses who have specialized training in primary health care.
They opened the Sudbury clinic in September 2007. It’s been so successful, the Ministry of Health plans to open 25 more by 2012.
“You’re cutting edge,” McGuinty told clinic staff.
The nurse practitioner clinics will help close the gap on the number of people who don’t have a family doctor. In Sudbury alone, that number is 30,000.
Many new patients at the Sudbury clinic haven’t seen a doctor in a while, said nurse practitioner Esther Allen-Fogarty. As a result, they haven’t been screened for serious diseases.
“People have had diabetes for years, but there’s been no-one to take care of them,” Allen-Fogarty said.
Currently, the clinic has 4,500 patients at its Sudbury, Dowling and Chapleau sites.
“I love (the clinic),” said patient Raymonde Jutras. “They’re very nice. You can come anytime you want.”
Patient Claire Durand tried for two years to get a family doctor. “(The clinic) is the best,” she said.
Nurse practitioners have been around for 50 years, Allen-Fogarty said. Their role changed 10 years ago when they were allowed to do things like order tests and prescribe medication.
To become a nurse practitioner, you must have graduated from a four-year nursing program with at least 70 percent. You must have two years experience working as a registered nurse and a one-year certificate program. Down the road, you’ll need a masters in nursing instead.
The 25 new clinics are likely just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to nurse practitioner clinics in Ontario.
How many are needed?
“One on every corner,” Allen-Fogarty said.
