No family doctor? One phone number will soon connect you to health services in Montreal
"Gradually," is the word the president and director-general of Montreal's South-Central CIUSSS used several times to explain how a new primary care network will be deployed for people in Montreal who don't have a family doctor.
Sonia Belanger's cautious tone reflects the complexity of the ambitious project, which will officially launch in April.
Its success will depend on a sound technical setup and most of all on finding enough health professionals in Montreal, especially nurses, to answer calls and consult with patients.
"I'm convinced it will improve access. No system is perfect but I hope it's several steps in the right direction. We'll adjust as we go,” Belanger said as she provided a sneak peek at exactly how the new hub is expected to operate when it officially launches in April.
Of the 1.8 million people residing in Montreal, nearly 800,000 of them are without a family doctor. Only half have put their names on the approximately two-year waiting list.
That waiting list can be accessed online or by phone and is known in French as the 'Guichet d'access a un medecin de famille' (GAMF).
This new project is broadening the role of the GAMF and will transform it into five ‘guichets d'acces a la premiere ligne,' or GAPs: five front-line services hubs that will be operated by the CIUSSS in each of Montreal's five health territories.
ONE PHONE NUMBER, ONE CALL
It might sound a little confusing, so to make it simple for people to use, there will be just one number to call for any non-emergency issue, like "an earache for example, or a vision problem,” Belanger said.
"We don't want it to be complicated. People don't always know which CIUSSS is in their territory so for the population there will be one unique phone number,” Belanger said, that will be publicized at a later date.
A nurse will answer the call, gather some basic information and will then transfer the person to the GAP in their area.
"There at the access point, there will be an evaluation with a professional on the phone. They can sign up for a family doctor and they can ask for help if they need it,” Belanger said.
WHAT KINDS OF HEALTH SERVICES WILL BE AVAILABLE?
"Depending on the person's needs and priority we can give access within 48 hours to a health professional,” said Belanger.
She said the referral would be "either to a doctor - but if there's no doctor then, depending on the situation, they can have access to a nurse practitioner, a nurse, a social worker or even a pharmacist.”
Frequently she said, people just need to renew a prescription, but without a family doctor to turn to they don't know how to go about it.
"Pharmacists in many circumstances could renew,” Belanger said.
It will take time before they'll be able to integrate other professionals and services into the mix, like psychologists or physiotherapists, support that GPs say they need if they're to take on new patients.
Still, GPs will be called upon she said to help make the new system work.
"All the GMF's [family medicine groups] will have an obligation to have an appointment system,” that will be connected to the new GAPs.
"The doctors…will have to take the people who are on the list, it's very important,” she said.
“It’s a big challenge, a big, big challenge. We’re missing many nurses now also."
The hope is that those who have been working in hospitals and vaccination centres over the last two years will return to help.
“We’ll continue to recruit. We need them, it’s clear,” said Belanger.
Correction
A previous version of this story stated 400,000 Montreal residents are without a family docotor, according to figures provided to CTV News. In fact, the number is 800,000.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'He's in our hearts': Family and friends still seek answers one year after Nathan Wise’s disappearance
It’s been a year since Nathan Wise went missing and his family is no closer to finding out what happened to him.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
Edibles, armchairs and adapters: Here are the recalls for this week
Health Canada announced various product recalls this week, including electric adapters, armchairs, cannabis edibles and vehicle components.
Putin replaces Russian defence minister in rare cabinet shakeup
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin began a Cabinet shakeup on Sunday, proposing the replacement of Sergei Shoigu as defence minister as he begins his fifth term in office.
Suspect sought after fatal slashing in downtown Toronto
Police are searching for a suspect in a homicide investigation after a man was slashed in downtown Toronto on Sunday.
Over 300 dead, thousands displaced in northern Afghanistan as floods affect region
The UN food agency estimated that unusually heavy seasonal rains in Afghanistan have left more than 300 people dead and thousands of houses destroyed.
WATCH Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.