TARGET AUDIENCE
Cuts, sprains, fevers, insect bites, mild asthma attacks … a lot of pressing health concerns and minor emergencies like these end up in the emergency room just because patients have nowhere else to go.
But patients of the Calgary West Central PCN have another option before heading to hospital: a consult with a HealthLink nurse, who will assess the concern and guide the patient to the most appropriate care option. Nurses ensure that patients who need to be seen within four hours on weekdays, or within 24 hours on weekends and holidays, are either connected with the on-call physician, seen in the after-hours clinic, or directed to the nearest emergency room.
Individuals who don’t have a family physician but live within the CWC PCN boundary are also provided with care instructions. It’s all part of a strategy to help patients get the care they need while keeping emergency rooms free for true emergencies.
AFTER HOURS CLINIC IS OPEN:
Weekdays: 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Weekends & Holidays: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
CONTACT: To access the after hours clinics, call HealthLink Alberta at 403.943.LINK (5465) or toll-free at 1.866.408.LINK (5465).
A Success Story from our PCN
Recently an elderly patient (we'll call her Elsie) still didn't feel well after finishing all the medication her family physician had prescribed for a urinary tract infection. It was a Sunday morning and Elsie debated whether to tough it out until Monday or call her doctor on the weekend. Mobility and transportation issues meant it was too difficult to travel to the nearest hospital, particularly since her husband's failing health would prevent them from waiting in the ER for more than a short period of time. 
Read more.