Renfrew County is launching a new initiative to help strengthen access to primary care for local residents. A virtual triage and assessment centre is an effort to reduce the demand on local emergency departments and to provide local residents who do not have a family doctor with care when they have health matters they need addressed. Through this initiative, physicians and nurse practitioners can access and manage your health concerns through phone and video appointments, as well as in-home assessments and diagnostic testing by community paramedics as well as referrals to mental health support. Dr. Jonathan Fitzsimon, Chief of Medicine, Arnprior Regional Health says “The number of COVID-19 cases is increasing exponentially in Ontario, he adds “We must slow this spread, protect our healthcare professionals, and yet continue to provide care and advice for all residents of Renfrew County. The RC VTAC will help enormously in our efforts to do this. ” Fitzsimon, was quoted say, “the sheer hard work, as well as the collaboration and cooperation between so many organizations in Renfrew County, to develop this new service at lightning speed has been truly incredible.” Through this initiative, paramedics will work with nurse practitioners and physicians, using tools they’ve found successful – providing a direct link to a physician for the patient. The Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre is a collaboration between Renfrew County Primary Care teams, the County of Renfrew Paramedic Service, Renfrew County Hospitals, and the Renfrew County and District Health Unit, with the support of Ontario Health East.
