Expanded Primary Health Care Services Coming to Saugeen Shores

The Town of Saugeen Shores and VON Canada – Ontario Branch, Nurse Practitioner Program are pleased to announce expanded nurse practitioner (NP) primary health care services in Saugeen Shores and the opening of a Same Day Urgent Care Clinic.

NP Colleen Fowler has delivered comprehensive primary health care services from the Saugeen Shores Medical Building for many years. We are pleased to announce that a second NP, Elizabeth Clare, has joined Colleen Fowler to expand services. Janice Shillinglaw will be providing administrative support to both nurse practitioners.

Saugeen Shores residents who don’t have a primary care provider will be offered the opportunity to be a permanent client until both NP panels are at maximum capacity. For transient residents (e.g., Bruce Power/construction, cottagers) services will be provided for urgent issues such as sore throats, lacerations, or a joint sprain. Long-standing issues such as chronic pain, will not be addressed for non-registered clients and no controlled drugs such as opioids (e.g., Percocet) or benzodiazepines (e.g., Ativan) will be prescribed to non-registered clients. In addition, prescriptions for chronic long-standing conditions (such as diabetes, hypertension, or asthma) will NOT be refilled at this clinic if the transient person has a provider elsewhere.

Nurse practitioners are Advanced Practice Nurses with extra education and experience and an expanded scope of practice. They are autonomous practitioners skilled in the assessment, diagnosis, and management of health conditions and place a focus on holistic care, primary prevention, and health promotion.

VON Same Day Urgent Care Clinic Opening Monday November 1, 2021

The VON Clinic will maintain registered clients and provide same day, urgent care appointments for residents of Saugeen Shores or transient community members who may have a provider at a distance but need to be seen while in the area for an urgent concern.

Afternoons at the VON Clinic will be dedicated to same-day appointments. Starting November 1, 2021, same day appointments can be made by calling 226-909-1309 starting at 9 a.m. Appointments will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Urgent appointments for the following afternoon will not be booked until the following morning. Patients will be seen by the nurse practitioners at the Saugeen Shores Medical Building located at 36 Grey Street North, Southampton.

Beginning November 1, 2021, local residents who do not have a provider may call 226-909-1309 to arrange a meet and greet appointment with one of the nurse practitioners. Please do not call the Saugeen Shores Medical Building.  

VON and Saugeen Shores are excited to partner in this exciting endeavor and VON looks forward to providing increased access to primary health care in Saugeen Shores.