At the direction of Ontario Health, the Region of Waterloo's COVID Care Clinic on Pinebush Road will move to 50 Sportsworld Drive in Kitchener on Dec. 1 and become an assessment centre for respiratory illness.
The centre, operated by Grand River Hospital, will be renamed the Regional COVID, Cold and Flu Care Clinic with expanded services to assess cold and influenza symptoms, along with its current COVID-19 testing and therapeutics services.
The new name reflects the expanded services offered by the clinic, which will see patients of all ages for assessment of COVID, cold, and influenza-like symptoms, says a Wednesday news release.
The move comes as Ontario is experiencing a significant increase in COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The clinic will offer up to 400 visits per week, to support community members who:
- Have moderate or worsening COVID-19, cold, or influenza-like symptoms who cannot manage safely at home; or
- Have symptoms and are at higher risk of severe disease, who may need COVID-19 testing and/or treatments; or
- Have COVID-19, cold, or influenza-like symptoms and do not have a regular primary care clinician; or
- Are otherwise eligible for COVID-19 PCR testing (ie. health care workers).
“Expanding the services we offer to include cold and flu symptoms allows us to support more community-based care.” says Bonnie Camm, executive vice-president of clinical services at Grand River Hospital in a press release.
“Building this capacity in our health system is crucial for reducing the strain on emergency departments and preventing hospitalizations whenever possible.”
Patients with severe symptoms are asked to continue to seek care at their nearest emergency department, or by calling 911.
Patients can either self-refer or be referred by a health care professional (i.e., primary care clinician, pharmacist, public health staff, Health Connect Ontario nurse).
The CCFCC will also offer expanded service hours to serve the community during the evening.
The clinic will be open:
- Thursday, December 1: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Friday – Sunday: 8am to 4pm
- Monday – Thursday (except Dec 1): 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Anyone needing COVID-19 cold and influenza symptom assessment appointments, including children is asked to call 226-806-5690.
COVID testing for eligible people is still available by walk-in, no appointment necessary.
GRH thanked the community Primary Care Leads, Ontario Health Teams, Cambridge North-Dumfries and KW4, as well as the Region of Waterloo, St. Mary’s General Hospital, and Cambridge Memorial Hospital for their continued collaboration and partnership with the Regional COVID, Cold and Flu Care Clinic.
#UPDATE: The Regional COVID Care Clinic, operated by GRH, has been renamed Regional COVID, Cold and Flu Care Clinic and is moving to 50 Sportsworld Drive, Kitchener on December 1st... and that's not all! 1/2 pic.twitter.com/5St4xKStWg
— Grand River Hospital (@grhospitalkw) November 30, 2022
