A temporary “urgent and primary care centre” is opening in Chilliwack on Evans Road to give people access to team-based care outside of business hours.
“It is vitally important that people have access to primary care in the evening and weekend hours, as not everyone is able to leave work, school or other priorities during the day,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix in a release April 19.
Patients who come in with sprains, cuts, high fevers or minor infections, for example, will be seen at the new, interim location of 104-7955 Evans Road, inside the same building that houses the Fraser Health Rural Primary Care Centre: Momíyelhtelaxwt.
“Phase 1 of the new urgent and primary care centre in Chilliwack will help people get the team-based episodic care they need and stay as healthy as possible, while we work on expanding the service at a permanent location soon to come,” Dix said in a press release April 19.
Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove praised the expanded access.
“Greater health-care access, especially during evenings and weekends, is a significant need in our rapidly growing community, where many residents do not have a primary-care provider, or many options for where to go when they need care,” Popove said. “We are thankful to have a new urgent and primary care facility opening in Chilliwack as part of the Government of B.C.’s ongoing work to enhance access to health care.”
This type of centre provides same-day care for people who need health concerns seen within 12 to 24 hours but do not require an emergency department.
The Chilliwack centre joins other similar Fraser Health facilities already open in Abbotsford, Burnaby, Maple Ridge, Port Moody and Surrey.
These urgent and primary care centres will see people who do not have a primary-care provider, as well as people with a provider who are unable to schedule an appointment within 12 to 24 hours. Patients and families seeking attachment to a primary-care provider will be supported through the Health Connect Registry.
“As we expand our network of urgent and primary care centres into Chilliwack, we’re enhancing opportunities for our community to access timely, quality care when they need it most,” said Dr. Victoria Lee, president and CEO, Fraser Health.
The centre will be staffed by family physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses. It is supported by a site medical director, clinical care co-ordinators and administrative staff. At the permanent location, it is expected it will provide longitudinal primary care, in addition to urgent primary care.
The urgent and primary care centre will be open seven days a week: 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. from Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and statutory holidays. Once it opens in its permanent location, they will have expanded hours of operation and staffing.
These centres are part of the government’s goal to enhance access to health-care services. It supports B.C.’s Health Human Resources Strategy, which identifies 70 key actions to recruit, train and retain health-care workers, while redesigning the health-care system to foster workplace satisfaction and innovation.
People can access care at the centre by walking in or by calling 778-704-6006 to make an appointment.
READ MORE: Primary care centre opened in 2022