Promoting our Urgent Care Centres

This spring, information will flow in new ways for the NHS, as Corporate Communications and the Emergency program work together to get the word out on when to use our three Urgent Care Centres (UCC).

Staffer Shari Michaud, RN at Douglas Memorial UCC, is the voice of Niagara Health in a radio ad now running 40 times a week until mid-June on Welland’s Giant FM at 91.7. Tune in to hear her explain the types of conditions UCCs treat. The audio file is also posted on our website at www.niagarahealth.on.ca.

Over the next month, elementary and secondary school students of both school boards will be bringing home a new ER/Urgent Care regional brochure, complete with map showing our locations. This brochure will be given out in doctors’ offices, at our sites, and through Niagara Region Public Health and Niagara ambulances. Also being given out at our sites are eye-catching fridge magnets, showing the different types of care ERs and UCCs provide.

How will we measure the effectiveness of this promotion? Mainly by tracking patient volumes at our ERs/UCCs for triage level 4/5 (non-urgent) patients. The primary goals are to increase patient volumes at our two Lake Erie UCCs and decrease the number of non-urgent patients coming to our busy ERs. These level 4 and 5 patients can receive faster treatment at the UCCs or walk-in clinics. «