Residents of Howick and region have another health care option for minor emergencies and routine procedures.
Before November 2015, the only nursing services in the Howick area were provided by Amy Tolhurst, a Registered Nurse who had been doing parish nursing out of the Howick United Church for 15 years. With no medical setting in Howick, Amy saw a deficit in the community and wanted to see the work that she had started continue. Her goal was to establish a mid-point of service for the many medical needs that do not require a hospital visit. After three years of work and planning, the Family Health COOP Howick opened. Since its inception, the COOP has been welcomed by the community and the surrounding area, and is currently seeking to extend its member base and grow the number of services it can provide.
The COOP currently employs two nurses, Amy Tolhurst and Tanya Clarke. The clinic also offers scheduled Massotherapie, Foot Care, and Muscle Activation Therapy. The COOP works in collaboration with Ormstown’s Barrie Memorial where, with a requisition form, blood work and specimens can be taken by a nurse at the clinic and transported for clients to the Barrie. Nurses see patients by appointment or walk-ins for minor procedures like wound dressing, suture removal, or ear cleaning. They can also provide consultations, and if need be, book an appointment at the closest available doctor through the Bonjour-santé network.
The COOP is extremely useful for older residents of the area who might not want to drive long distances. Young families are also a target group for the COOP. As a young mother herself, Tanya Clarke explains: “Even though I’m a nurse, I know that sometimes as moms we tend to get nervous and just need someone to talk to, to assess the situation, and to reassure us.” Tanya can consult on minor injuries, possible ear infections, or examine a child with a fever and make recommendations. “Way too many kids wind up in the ER with the flu. It’s unnecessary and it exposes all to germs,” she says.
She also cites in a recent example of doing blood work how the COOP provided a much calmer environment for a three-year-old. “It was relaxed and quiet; he played happily on my iPhone,” she says. Two areas of planned expansion for family services are an infant weigh-station and providing childhood vaccinations. A walk-in consultation with a nurse is $10. Children of members are free.
In collaboration with The Community Learning Centre in Huntingdon, Tanya will also be starting an agenda to promote health in elementary schools. First stop will be a visit to Howick Elementary School in June to discuss summer safety practices. She’ll touch on the importance of sunscreen, bicycle and water safety, hydration, and review the Heimlich maneuver.
On June 17th, the COOP will be hosting its major event of the year, a Golf Tournament and Supper at Bellevue Golf Club in Léry QC. See The Family Health COOP Howick Facebook page for more event details and all other membership information.
https://www.facebook.com/events/837022739760684/
