Regina’s Urgent Care Centre helped 575 patients in first week: SHA

The Saskatchewan Health Authority says the Regina Urgent Care Centre’s first week of operation was a success.

Thomas Stewart, the health authority’s executive director of acute care, said medical staff helped 575 patients at the first-of-its-kind care centre located at 1320 Albert Street.

“I’m really thrilled, as this is an offsite building, a brand new service to the community,” Stewart said.

“We really just have a fantastic team.”

Stewart said it’s still to early to tell if the centre is easing pressure on Regina’s hospital emergency departments, but he’s optimistic.

“We do hope to see a reductions in some of the presentations to the emergency departments both at the General and the Pasqua Hospital,” he said.

The Urgent Care Centre is officially open and ready to accept patients. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

In the first six days of operations, Stewart said around 30 patients were taken from the urgent care centre to Regina hospital emergency units. The health authority predicted the new centre will reduce emergency room visits by 55 each day.

The facility, which cost $18.7 million, is currently open from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., but is expected to extend its hours in the months ahead.

“We continue to hire over the summer months and complete the orientation, and are still working towards having a target of opening to 24/7 operations in the fall,” Stewart said.

The urgent care centre will eventually be staffed by 130 employees. On the urgent care centre’s opening day on July 2, 117 positions had been filled. Stewart didn’t know how many more positions are left to fill, but said good progress is being made.

Urgent not emergent is the general rule of thumb when it comes to knowing when to go to the Urgent Care Centre. (Government of Saskatchewan)

The facility gives urgent, non-emergency care, meant to help those who cannot see their primary care provider on short notice. Patients at the centre are served on a basis of urgency. The centre has a mental health and addictions unit with its own triage system.

Medical professionals at the centre mostly treat serious, non-life-threatening injuries like cuts, sprains, breaks, mental health issues, flu cases and addictions issues. People experiencing chest pain, breathing problems, or a life-threatening emergency were advised to call 911 immediately rather than visiting the centre.

In 2020, an urgent care centre was announced for Saskatoon, which is to be built near St. Paul’s Hospital. The building and land will be owned by Ahtahkakoop Cree Developments and leased to by the health authority, which will deliver the services.