Primary Health Care, Family Practice and Community Clinics

Since the pandemic, Eastern Health primary health care and family practice clinics (doctor or nurse practitioner’s appointments) located at Eastern Health sites are proceeding. Patient lists continue to be reviewed to provide follow-up appointments by telephone or other virtual technologies, or in-person, where appropriate and safe to do so.

Some patients and clients attend appointments at private doctor’s clinics. Those patients and clients are encouraged to check with their individual doctor’s office to confirm if their appointment is going ahead.

Family Practice

Many family practices are offering appointments by phone, and some are providing appointments by video. Your family doctor or nurse practitioner can work with you to determine if an appointment should be provided in-person or virtually.

What should you do if you need primary care?

• Call your regular health provider to make an appointment, as you normally would. Many health-care providers, including some walk-in clinics, are offering virtual care options such as phone or video conference appointments.
• Call the 811 NL HealthLine (811 / TTY 1-888-709-3555) to speak to a registered nurse 24 hours a day, seven days a week about any health issue or concern. Virtual appointments can also be scheduled with a nurse practitioner for urgent, non-emergency health issues via telephone, text or video. Appointments for these virtual walk-in clinics are available seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Call your pharmacy if you need a prescription renewed. Pharmacists can provide short-term renewals for most prescriptions, as well as provide health advice for common health concerns.
  If you have concerns about your health, please contact your doctor or nurse practitioner. Family physicians are able to consult with on-call specialists to determine whether urgent investigation of a patient’s health issue is required.
• If you do not have a family doctor or a regular health provider, you can call the 811 NL HealthLine (811 / TTY 1-888-709-3555) or you may visit a walk-in clinic. For information regarding family physicians who may be accepting new patients, please visit the Find A Doctor NL webpage: https://www.findadoctornl.ca/.
• For individuals residing in the St. John’s metro area who do not have a family physician, a new Collaborative Team Clinic has also been established. Patients who are interested in registering with this new clinic may call 709-752-4747 between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
• Major’s Path After Hours Clinic is currently operational offering both in person and virtual appointments for patients of participating family doctors. The clinic operates by appointment only. To make an appointment please call 709-52-6646.
• If you have a health emergency, please go to your local emergency department or call ambulance service at 911. Our hospitals are equipped to treat emergencies safely during COVID-19, please do not delay seeking medical attention when you need it.

In-person appointments

Going to an in-person appointment at your family practice or community clinic is safe. Primary care providers and staff follow guidelines to protect patients from the spread of COVID-19, as well as themselves. This includes:

• Asking patients about symptoms related to COVID-19 when scheduling an appointment, as well as when they arrive for the appointment.
• Regularly and thoroughly cleaning waiting rooms and exam rooms.
• Your care provider will be wearing a mask during your appointment. You will be provided with a mask and ask to wear it as well.

Opioid Dependency Treatment Centre (Bell Island)
The Opioid Dependency Treatment Centre on Bell Island is continuing to support new and existing clients through medication administration and counselling services. The clinic is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., seven days a week. Clinic staff can be reached at 709-488-2752.
Downtown health collaborative (St. John’s)
Health services have resumed at all our downtown partner locations, including The Gathering Place, Stellas Circle, Choices for Youth and New Hope Community Centre. Virtual and in-person visits are available.

Refugee health (St. John’s)
The Refugee Health Collaborative has been relocated to a new location in Churchill Square in St. John’s, and is currently offering a full range of services both virtually and in person.

Chronic Disease Management and Prevention

Your primary health-care provider with your team will work with you to determine if an appointment should be provided in-person or virtually. Many chronic disease prevention and management teams are offering virtual care.

Please visit our Health Information website, known as our Hi website, for a hundreds of health and wellness resources for you, your family and your community.

Community Clinics

As of Monday, April 13, 2020, community clinics offered in Old Perlican, Heart’s Delight and Placentia are by appointment only.

Clients who are referred to these clinics for appointments will be contacted directly. Those with questions can call their community clinic as follows:

• Old Perlican: 709-587-2370
• Heart’s Delight: 709-588-2565
• Placentia: 709-227-3641

For a listing of community clinics and public health offices, please see: www.easternhealth.ca/PublicHealthLocations.