It’s been over a month since the opening of the Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) in Williams Lake, offering an alternative to people in the area who cannot access a primary care provider when they need it.
“Things are going well,” said Kelly Dillon, director of clinical operations for Interior Health. In its first month of operations after opening on February 25, the UPCC has completed 1,230 appointments and continues to get requests from health care workers looking to help out.
The centre anticipates facilitating over 42,000 visits per year with the goal of increasing access to same-day care in the area while lowering pressure on hospital and emergency staff.
However, it isn’t always clear for patients when they should choose to go to a UPCC over the emergency department.
“There’s a difference between urgent and emergency,” said Dillon. Emergencies, she explained, are situations which could be life threatening if not dealt with immediately, while urgent situations can wait for up to 24 hours.
If you have been in a major accident or are experiencing symptoms which are potentially life-threatening, go to your local emergency room or call 911. This includes trouble breathing or catching your breath, severe abdominal or chest pain or pressure, weakness or tingling on one side of your body, severe burns, losing consciousness or heavy bleeding.
If you need care within 24 hours for a non-life-threatening situation and cannot access a primary care provider by then, visit a UPCC. This includes situations such as minor fevers, sprains or strains caused by minor accidents, minor bleeding or cuts which require stitches, minor burns, mild to moderate breathing difficulties, skins conditions such as rashes or infections, a sore throat, minor allergic reactions, pain or burning when urinating, non-severe new or worsening pain and new or worsening mental health concerns.
You can also visit a UPCC if you have sinus, oral or lung infections or if you are experiencing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation.
The centres are designed to address a community’s health needs with a team-based approach, relying on registered nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, physiotherapists and family doctors to provide needed care. To determine what care will best suit their needs, patients are triaged by a nurse after arriving and registering at the front desk.
As hiring efforts for the Williams Lake UPCC continue throughout the month of April, patients who need to see a family doctor will be able to set up an appointment with one virtually if a triage determines this is necessary.
“UPCCs are not intended to replace your primary care provide nor the emergency,” said Dillon.
However, if you have an urgent and non-life-threatening situation but cannot access your family doctor within 24 hours, she said you should visit a UPCC.
The centre can also help with prescription renewals and with providing sexual health information and testing.
While Interior Health said patients at the Williams Lake UPCC are generally registered within a half hour of their arrival in the mornings, those unsure if they require emergency care should call ahead to avoid waiting in line at the UPCC. Patients who are unsure whether to attend the UPCC or the emergency can contact the UPCC at 250-302-3237 or call HealthLink BC at 811.
“The UPCC medical office assistants are always on the alert for someone not looking well in the waiting room. If someone is looking unwell, a quick priority assessment will be done and the person will be managed accordingly,” Interior Health said in an email to Black Press. “Alternatively, if the medical office assistant finds the reason for the patient’s visit is beyond the scope of the UPCC, or is unsure, they will seek the assistance of a nurse.”
If staff find a patient is in need of emergency care, they will call for an ambulance and will also advise the ER which they are in contact with.
The UPCC in Williams Lake, located on 47 Cameron Street, is open seven days a week including on statutory holidays from 9:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. The 41st of its kind to open in B.C. since 2018, the centre also has a smudging space and will be able to accommodate 116 patients per day once fully staffed.
To learn more about UPCCs, visit the Williams Lake UPCC webpage or B.C.'s UPCC webpage. Interior Health has also compiled a list of helpful resources which can be found online.
To register for a primary care provider, visit the Health Connect Registry webpage and click register.
