Let's visit a new health centre that opened in Whitehorse in 2022. The Centre de santé Constellation Health Centre is a bilingual primary health care clinic. It's the first primary health care centre of its kind in the Yukon. Let's take a tour and explain its role in the Yukon healthcare system.
What is a primary health care clinic?
Primary health care clinics are the first point of contact when clients need non-urgent care or advice about their health and wellness. Staff such as primary health care nurses are there to:
- provide preventative care;
- identify and treat common medical conditions;
- order and interpret diagnostic tests;
- prescribe and monitor medications; and
- make referrals to specialized providers.
The model of Constellation is innovative. For starters it is not a walk-in clinic. To access care, clients are first registered with the clinic. They then have access to a team of care providers, including primary care providers such as nurse practitioners. For registered clients, the Constellation Health Centre offers same-day appointments. This means clients are able to call the centre and pre-book an appointment, provided there is an opening, to receive care on the same day. Same-day services mitigate long wait times often associated with walk-in clinics. They also take stress off the hospital and other primary care clinics.
Care in many languages
Another element Constellation Health Centre is access to care in clients' language of preference. The centre connects clients to quality health care when they need it, in both French and English. (Anecdotally I'll say this is no empty promise: On every occasion I have been to Constellation including November 22 for this photo shoot, I spoke French throughout my visit with the staff. The service is genuinely bilingual.) Going beyond French and English there is also virtual interpretation available in many other languages.
Staff have a videoconference console terminal on wheels. This can be moved around the centre and with it they can reach trained interpretation staff at the press of a button.
What services does the new Constellation Health Centre offer?
Services offered at Constellation include:
- outpatient care;
- referrals to other health care providers and specialists;
- diagnosing, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, prescribing and/or administering pharmaceuticals and prescribing and/or performing specific procedures;
- virtual visits;
- routine check-ups;
- chronic disease management;
- health education and promotion; and
- social work and rapid-access mental health counselling.