Those who use a new walk-in clinic in Welland will likely see familiar faces.
The SelectMD Urgent Care centre – which opened last week in a plaza at Thorold and South Pelham roads -is run by three emergency department doctors from Welland hospital.
Drs. Colin Zides, David Bak and Kevin Grant set up the seven-day clinic. Its hours are Monday to Friday 9 a. m. to 8 p. m. and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 9 a. m. to 3 p.m.
They will gradually expand it to include a family health practice.
It is designed to serve Welland, Pelham and Port Colborne.
“Of course, we will take anyone who comes in,” said Zides, noting people may live in Niagara Falls or St. Catharines but happen to be working in Welland.
Doctors at the clinic will handle coughs and colds, minor illnesses, sprains and strains, minor injuries and lacerations, flu and allergy shots, immunizations, travel medicines and physicals.
“You wouldn’t want people coming here who should be going to the hospital emergency ward,” said Bak.
The 225-square-metre clinic has nine examining rooms allowing for three doctors to work at one time.
Zides, who will work at the clinic full-time, called it a model of health care that joins urgent care service and family health practice.
The clinic is designed to be “a turnkey operation,” said Zides.
He said it’s intended attract young doctors “who are interested in getting to work” rather than worrying about the business issues of setting up and running a practice.
“I know when I was in medical school I was never taught how to set up a practice and hire staff,” Grant said.
Bak and Grant will continue to work in the hospital emergency wards in Welland and other local hospitals, while also filling in at the clinic.
“Among us we have about 50 years of emergency care experience,” said Zides.
Zides was involved in planning the present emergency department at Welland hospital. He and his two partners have spent the past year planning and overseeing construction of the SelectMD Urgent Care walk-in clinic in the plaza.
Computerization of patient data, rather than using extensive paper files, is a key part of the organization.
A doctor can call up a patient’s file, which includes background information and family history, in any of the examining rooms through networking system of computer terminals.
This allows any doctor working with a patient to have easy access to a patient’s information.
Using a demonstration file on patient “Mickey Mouse,” Zides typed in a prescription for a cold remedy, which is automatically added to the file, and can be printed out to take to a pharmacist.
“We bought two filing cabinets, but will have to take one back because we don’t think we will need it,” said Zides.
“Oh yes, we do have backup.”
A feature to the health-care model is the use of registered nurses, particularly those with specialized backgrounds in treatment of conditions such as diabetes and rheumatism.
“Most clinics don’t have registered nurses,” said Zides.
The layout of the clinic includes examination rooms, a doctors’ room and handicap access washroom, but also a nurses’ room near the reception area. Nurses could give injections, talk with patients and handle specific tasks.
The clinic has a website – www.SelectMD.ca-to keep in touch with the public and patients, provide information about the clinic and give health tips.
Zides, Bak and Grant all live in Pelham and have each worked in local emergency wards for more than a dozen years.
“We’re not going anywhere, we’re here to stay,” said Grant.
Article By Wayne Campbell from the Welland Tribune (Article ID# 1134506)
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