About Nurse Practitioners
Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics
What is a Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (NPLC)?
- NPLCs are a new, innovative model for delivery of comprehensive primary health care in Ontario and Canada. The model is designed to improve access to care for the thousands of individuals and families who do not currently have a primary health-care provider. One of the unique aspects of the model is the incorporation of nursing leadership within an interprofessional team. To learn more about Nurse Pracitioner-Led Clinics:
- Visit the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care website.
- View video.
- Nurse Practitioner Led Clinics in Ontario video
Watch a Short Video to hear a patient’s perspective about receiving care at the Sudbury District Nurse Practitioner clinics. Click here
Is there a clinic near me?
To contact the clinics that are now accepting patients, please visit the MOHLTC Health Care Options website.
Here is a List of some of the operational Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics:
Belleville Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic
231 Front Street Belleville, ON K8N 2Z4
bellevillenplc@hotmail.com
(613) 779-7304
Sudbury District Nurse Practitioner Clinics
359 Riverside Drive, Suite 107 Sudbury, ON P3E 1H5 705-671-1661 (T) 705-671-0177 (F) and 623 Main Street Lively, ON P3Y 1M9, 705-692-1667 (T) 705-692-0177 (F)
VON Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic
330 Notre Dame St.
Suite 200, Box 519
Belle River, ON N0R 1A0
(519) 728-9116
Waterloo Region Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic
Paula Carere RN(EC ) NP PHC BScN MEd
Clinic Director
Waterloo Region NP Led Clinic
13 Water St N
Cambridge ON
N1R 3B2
519-772-2322 (p)
519-772-2323 ( f)
pc.1@rogers.com
519-830-9689(c)
The Waterloo Region NPLC became operational at our Water St Galt site ON January 9th, 2012.
We will be opening our Pioneer Park Kitchener site June 2012 .
North Muskoka NPLC in Huntsville – opening date – early January 2012
We do have a website and are accepting client registrations through an online form.
5 Centre Street, Huntsville, ON, P1H 2C1
Phone – 705 224-6752
Fax – 705 224-6753email – info@northmuskokanplc.com Grand Opening Friday February 21, 2012- For More Information website - www.northmuskokanplc.com
Lakehead Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic
Suite 101 – 325 S. Archibald Street, Thunder Bay, ON P7E 1G6
(807) 475-9595 Phone
(807) 475-9797 Fax
Contacts are as follows: Lead NP – Pam Delgaty, HBScN, RN(EC), NP-PHC
Clinic Administrator – Kyle Jessiman, HBComm, MHA
President, Board of Directors – Dr. Lynne Thibeault, NP-PHC, HBScN, MEd, DNP
Website: www.lnplc.com
Essex County Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic
35 Victoria Ave., Unit 6
Essex, ONT
N8M 1M4
Phone: 519-776-6856
Fax: 519-776-7904
Allan McCallum RN(EC), M.N., PHC-NP, FNP-C
Primary Health Care and Family Nurse Practitioner
Clinical Lead
Email: a.mccallum@ecnplc.com
Pauline Gemmell, Administrative Lead
Email: p.gemmell@ecnplc.com
Catherine Schooley, RN(EC), B.A., B.Sc.N., PHC-NP
President, Board of Directors
Huronia NPLC
3331 Line 4 North, RR1
Shanty Bay, ON
L0L 2L0
Ph) 705 835 7545
Georgina NPLC 21071 Dalton Rd.
Sutton West, ON
L0E- 1R0
Phone: 905-722-3251
What services do NPLCs provide to patients?
Patients who register with a NPLC will have access to comprehensive primary health care. Clinics provide care when patients are ill as well as a range of health services that help individuals and families maintain or improve their overall health. Typical of other primary care delivery models programs and services include annual physicals, episodic illness care, falls prevention programs for older persons, immunizations, smoking cessation, injury prevention and monitoring and management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, asthma ,heart disease and mental health conditions.
Who provides care to patients?
Interprofessional teams provide care to patients. Patients are registered with the clinic and not to an individual health-care provider. Core primary health care services are provided by a nurse practitioner. In addition to nurse practitioners, other professionals on the team may include physicians, registered nurses, social workers, pharmacists, dieticians, mental health workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists or others. Depending on individual needs, patients have access to care from any member of the team. The design of each team is based on community and patient requirements. Referrals to medical specialists are sought as needed.
Are Nurse Practitioner Led Clinics similar to walk-in clinics?
No. NPLCs provide comprehensive health care over the course of the life time for patients. Patients must register to the clinic and receive their routine primary health care from the clinic.
How do these clinics fit with government priorities for primary health care?
NPLCs are a key component of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care’s new family health-care strategy. Nurse practitioner led clinics are designed to improve access to primary health care and reduce the number of patients without a health-care provider.
How is a Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic different from other models of care?
NPLCs provide the same comprehensive family health-care services as other family practice models. The key difference is that nurse practitioner leadership at all levels of the organization (e.g., governance, clinical practice and day to day operations) is embedded into the structure of the organization and patient care. This brings the comprehensive perspective of nurses, especially the focus on wellbeing, health promotion and disease prevention, to the day-to-day delivery of care for patients. In this model, nurse practitioners and registered nurses work to their full scope of practice.
What is the governance model for NPLC?
A non-profit governing board has overall responsibility and accountability for the clinic, to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and to the community. The board of directors is comprised of a mix of nurse practitioners, other health care professionals and community members. 51 % NP representation on the board of directors is suggested by NPLC leaders and the NPAO.
How are these clinics funded?
Funding for the clinics is provided by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. NPs working on these clinics are paid a salary and do not work on a fee for service basis.
What are the next steps for developing more nurse practitioner-led clinics?
The Government of Ontario is committed to implementing a total of 26 nurse practitioner-led clinics by the spring 2012. The first NPLC opened in Sudbury in 2007. The government announced three additional clinics for Belle River, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay. Eight clinics were announced in the fall of 2009 and another 14 clinics in August 2010 (Thessalon, Capreol, Smith Falls, Kitchener, Sutton, Scarborough, Sarnia, North Bay, North York, London, Ingersoll, Niagara Falls, Huntsville, Kitchener, Oshawa, Belleville, French River, Glengarry, Essex, Thunder Bay, Oro Station and Barrie). All of the clinics will be open by 2012. Nurse practitioners in many communities are eager to serve the public.
What are the benefits of NPLCs?
NPLCs are part of the government’s family health care strategy and were implemented to increase access to primary health care for patients without a regular primary care provider. These clinics are founded in a nursing model with the patient as partner in the care process and there is an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention. This model has increased awareness of the NP role with the public, stakeholders and the media.
What can a Nurse Practitioner do?
Nurse practitioners assess, diagnose, treat and monitor a wide range of health problems using an evidence based approach to their practice. They consult and collaborate with physicians and other health care professionals to meet the needs of the patient population. Chronic disease management, health promotion and illness prevention, as well as helping patients navigate through the health care system are integral to their approach to patient care. Engaging patients as full partners in their care plan with attention to self-care to the extent that patients are willing and able to participate is an important aspect of the underlying philosophy of NPLCs. In addition, nurse practitioners are experts in community health care needs assessment and program planning, implementation and evaluation. These programs are targeted to specific health care needs identified in collaboration with their communities.
Who regulates Nurse Practitioners?
The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) regulates nurse practitioners.
Where can I get more information on Nurse Practitioners?
- To view a video or download a brochure that describes the role of Nurse Practitioners, see this page of our website.
- For more information about the role and scope of practice visit the College of Nurses of Ontario.
- To learn more about Ontario’s plans for nurse practitioner led clinics go to the Ministry of health and Long-Term Care.
- For information on the role of nurse practitioners across Canada visit the Canadian Nurses Association
- To ask questions about Nurse Practitioner Led Clinics contact info@npao.org or Ask an RN at rnao.org
