Inverness Collaborative Family Practice enhancing same-day access for its patients

The Inverness Collaborative Family Practice is adding more access to same-day appointments for patients who belong to the collaborative.

Same-day access is designed to address non-urgent, low-acuity health issues. It is only for patients who belong to the Inverness Collaborative Family Practice. It is not a walk-in or urgent treatment clinic. 

People who are patients of the collaborative practice are now able to call 902-258-5704 to get a same-day appointment to see a healthcare provider with the practice. Phone lines will open at 8:30 a.m., Monday to Friday. The practice is located at 70 Maple Street, in the community health centre connected to Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital. 

A collaborative family practice like the Inverness Collaborative Family Practice, consists of family doctors working together with other health professionals. These other health professionals could include nurse practitioners, family practice nurses, LPNs, dietitians, social workers, pharmacists, etc. Every collaborative family practice team is different and may include a number of different health professionals.

Types of concerns that may be addressed by same-day access at the Inverness Collaborative Family Practice include:

• Prescription refills or renewals (except for controlled substances)
• Minor respiratory symptoms
• Sore throat
• Earaches
• Fever
• Headache
• Rashes
• Minor gastrointestinal concerns (vomiting and diarrhea)
• Cough, flu or cold symptoms
• Urinary tract infections
• Muscle pain

In addition to same-day access, there are other options for care:

• Anyone with urgent medical needs should call 911

• Nova Scotians can now access VirtualCareNs, which provides free, temporary access to primary health care. Visit www.virtualcarens.ca to register or request a virtual visit. VirtualCareNS is not an emergency service

• For general health advice and information call 811, which is a service offered 24/7 by experienced registered nurses.

• The provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line can also be reached 24/7 by calling 1-888-429-8167. 

• Additional information and local resources are available through www.YourHealthNS.ca