How to Get Health Care this Holiday Season

Mississauga/West Toronto (December 21, 2011) - At a time of year when many family doctors reduce their hours or close their offices, it’s important for you to know how and where to access health services in the Mississauga and south Etobicoke areas, should you get sick or have an accident.

If you require emergency medical care, please call 911 or go to one of the Emergency Departments. However, if your condition is non-urgent, to avoid a long wait in Emergency, you may want to make an appointment with your doctor. Please check with your doctor’s office to find out when they will be seeing patients. If your doctor is not available, you may wish to go to a walk-in clinic or visit the Urgent Care Centre or the Kid’z Klinic listed below.

You can help by being prepared for your holiday health needs

Ask your doctor’s office what back-up coverage they recommend when they are closed, such as after-hours clinics or an on-call service.
Update emergency telephone numbers and post in a visible place, such as your refrigerator.
Make sure everyone in your family has enough medical supplies, prescription and non-prescription medications, needles, alcohol swabs, etc. Also make sure inhalers, respirators, oxygen and glucose testing machines are in good working order.
Know where the nearest 24-hour pharmacy is located.
Remind visiting family members and friends to bring their health cards or health coverage documents and an adequate supply of prescription medications with them.
Keeping your hands clean can stop the spread of germs and will help protect yourself and others.
If your condition is an emergency, call 911 or go directly to the Emergency Department. For non life-threatening conditions, visit the Urgent Care Centre or Kid’z Klinic listed below.

Know when it is an emergency.

Sometimes it is difficult to know if your problem is an emergency. If unsure, you may wish to call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 for free access to a registered nurse who will help with any health related question. They are available 24 hours a day.

Here are a few examples of when you require emergency medical care:
When you are experiencing pains or tightness in the chest
When you have shortness of breath
When you have severe pain
When a person is choking or having difficulty breathing
When you think you may have fractured or broken a bone, or have a wound that may need stitches
When you have sudden, severe headaches, vision problems, sudden weakness, numbness and/or tingling in the face, arm or leg, trouble speaking, or dizziness
If your child has diarrhea and vomiting and won’t eat or drink
When a baby under six months has a fever over 37.9°C or 100°F
When a child over six months has a fever over 38.5°C or 101°F
If it is an emergency, go directly to the emergency department or call 911.

Please keep in mind that in any Emergency Department, patients are seen by a doctor in order of their need, not their time of arrival. Please remember to bring your Ontario Health Insurance Plan card and a list of medications.

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS

For serious conditions that require immediate attention, go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 911.

The Credit Valley Hospital
Emergency Department
2200 Eglinton Avenue West (at Erin Mills Parkway)
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Trillium Health Centre – Mississauga
Emergency Care Centre
100 Queensway West (at Hurontario St)
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

URGENT CARE CENTRE

Trillium Health Centre West Toronto
150 Sherway Drive (off The West Mall, across from Sherway Gardens Shopping Centre)
Open 8 a.m. - 10 p.m., 7 days a week
If you need to see a physician today for a non life-threatening condition about which you would normally see a family doctor or visit a walk-in-clinic, the Urgent Care Centre can help you.

KID’Z KLINIC – HOLIDAY HOURS

Trillium Health Centre – Mississauga
100 Queensway West (located within the Family Care Centre)

If your child requires attention for a non life-threatening condition and your paediatrician or family doctor is not available, visit Trillium’s Kid’z Klinic, a walk-in clinic for children, during the following holiday schedule.

December 24: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
December 25: Closed
December 26 - 27: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
December 28 - 30: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
December 31 - January 2: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
January 3: resume regular schedule.
Monday to Friday 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Go to www.feelbetterfaster.ca to learn more about your local health care options.

Have a safe and healthy holiday season!

For more information, go to www.cvh.on.ca or www.trilliumhealthcentre.org.

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Media Contacts:

Krista Finlay
Chief Communication Officer
The Credit Valley Hospital
905.813.2617
KFinlay@cvh.on.ca

Larry Roberts
Media Relations Consultant
Trillium Health Centre
416.358.7201
lroberts@thc.on.ca

Credit Valley Hospital

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