A new preventative care clinic in Sarnia is ready for patients.

And hopes are the new Rapids Family Health Team space, dedicated to things like cancer screening, diabetes, foot care and smoking cessation, will make an impact in overall community wellness, said Lynn Laidler, executive director with the Sarnia-based healthcare provider.

“It’s going to open up more doors for people,” she said about the new 3,000-square-foot (280-square-metre) clinic space, two doors down from the 20-year-old agency’s main Pontiac Drive office in Sarnia.

Plans were to open Monday, a bit delayed from the originally planned mid-October launch, Laidler said, after giving more time for construction and bringing the equipment in.

Disease prevention, health education and chronic disease management have long been part of what’s provided through the 37-physician health team, that also includes nurse educators, registered dietitians, occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals, Laidler said.

But opening a dedicated space not only frees up more clinical room elsewhere, it provides a more comfortable and private space for people receiving preventative care, she said.

“It’s clinical, but it’s not,” she said about the new office, calling it “more of a relaxed space” for things like cancer screening, women’s health, including Papanicolaou (pap) tests and menopause care, and congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder support.

Seven registered nurse educators are working out of the clinic alongside one manager, she said, noting classes are also offered, and plans are to look into expanding programming for proactive health in the community.

“Because now we’ll have the availability and the space to do that,” Laidler said.
“That’s another big key. We’re looking at what is it that we’re missing in Sarnia that we need to have.”

The new clinic gives people another access point to the healthcare system, Laidler said.

“Diabetes for instance, we can have a team look after you a little bit more closely,” she said. In the case of something like blood sugar rising, the patient is still seeing their doctor, but has somewhere to call in the meantime if they have questions, she said.

“Which is going to help the person regulate as well as keep them out of emerge.”

Most wait times at the clinic will be a week or two, she said.

The clinic received part of $175,000 in provincial funding for a local preventive care program, said Nadine Neve, executive lead with the Sarnia-Lambton Ontario Health Team.

That overall program, she said, is delivered through Rapids, the North Lambton Community Health Centre, and Twin Bridges Nurse Practitioner-led Clinic.

The funding is for operations, Neve said.

Many programs don’t require a doctor’s referral, Laidler said. Details are at rapidsfhteam.ca.

“We’re excited and I think this is a great opportunity for the community,” she said.

Tyler Kula joined The Observer in 2008 and covers Sarnia city hall. A southwestern Ontario native, and Western University graduate, he has also covered health and education.