New Good Doctors telemedicine clinic comes to Brock

Residents up in Brock Township will soon have better access to healthcare through a new Regional telemedicine clinic.

To run the new clinic, Durham Region has contracted Good Doctors, which has run numerous clinics in small Canadian communities since 2015.

On their mission, Good Doctors wrote, “We are trying to solve the problem that occurs when there’s just not enough family doctors to go around. Small communities across Canada have been dealing with a chronic shortage of primary care providers for years.”

“We also know that the solution isn’t the local hospital emergency department where the wait times can sometimes be hours on end. Sometimes you or your family member need to be seen for a non-urgent reason but you know it can turn into something more serious,” they continued.

The Beaverton clinic will provide this non-urgent care to those without a family doctor  from Lakeview Manor long-term care home at 133 Main Street.

By the end of the year the clinic will be fully open and operational three days a week. All patients will need to make an appointment in advance.

The clinic will feature a register practical nurse or a registered nurse who will meet with patients, record medical documents and set up the meeting with the doctor.

Patients will then discuss their concerns with a doctor through a video call. The nurse will rmeain in the room to help with any physical examinations.

The clinic will cover;

• Care and treatment for common acute illnesses and symptoms, coughs, upper respiratory tract infections, ear pain, influenza, bug bites, minor cuts and wounds, urinary tract infections, skin rash and strep throat.
• Screening and treatment for chronic conditions, such as high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes.
• Basic diagnostic tests, including those used for strep, urinalysis, tuberculosis and pregnancy.
• Basic procedures, including injections, suture and staple removal and ear flushing.
• Prescription renewals.
• Referrals to specialist medical providers and the management of those referrals.

“Through strong partnerships and collaboration, we are helping drive positive change; ensuring safe, healthy and thriving communities. This vital service is a reflection of this work,” said Regional Chair John Henry, “Together, we have ensured that north Durham residents, who do not have a family doctor, can access high-quality medical services close to home.”

Bringing a new primary care doctor to Beaverton was a significant concession from the Region to convince Brock Township to allow the construction of the controversial supportive housing unit in town.

This unit is set to house 47 homeless people and provide 24-hour wraparound healthcare services for them. However, the building prompted heavy push back from Brock council and residents which resulted in the project’s delay.

In the midst of a lawsuit about the building, the Region and Township negotiated numerous concessions including increased surveillance on site, a 30/20 split between homeless and improperly housed people, a full-time cop in town, a requirement for residents to engage in services and a family doctor for the town.