Toronto, ON – December 7, 2022 – Women’s College Hospital (WCH) has opened a COVID-19, Cold and Flu Clinic in response to the recent surge in respiratory viruses and increasing demand for paediatric care.
The clinic provides assessment and non-urgent care for individuals ages 2 and up who are experiencing cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, earache and others. In addition, the clinic provides COVID-19 PCR testing to eligible groups as determined by the Ontario government and assessment for COVID-19 and referral to a COVID-19 treatment centre. “The new clinic is available to members of our community, both adults and kids, making it easier for them to access care for a broad respiratory assessment during these fall and winter seasons,” says Dr. Marc Dagher, Medical Director of COVID-19 programs at WCH. The COVID-19, Cold and Flu Clinic is for non-urgent symptoms – patients with severe symptoms such as chest pain, severe difficulty breathing or sudden change in mental state are directed to call 9-1-1 or go to their nearest Emergency Department.
To help address the immense pressures currently facing hospitals and other healthcare organizations, including increased emergency department volumes, WCH has remained nimble and adaptive in the services it offers. The new clinic is an evolution of the COVID-19 Assessment Centre, which successfully supported testing, vaccinations and treatment throughout the pandemic. “Primary care providers have been working tirelessly to provide care for respiratory viruses to their patients, but due to the system pressures, many people are having to choose between recovering at home or going to the hospital,” says Dr. Dagher. “The COVID-19, Cold and Flu Clinic is an extra resource in the system, where people who have difficulty recovering at home or accessing care elsewhere, can go to for assessment and treatment.”
About the COVID-19, Cold and Flu Clinic
The COVID-19, Cold and Flu Clinic at Women’s College Hospital is located at the North-East entrance on Grosvenor Street. The clinic is open Monday to Friday from 12:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. by appointment only and offers assessment and management of respiratory infections, such as cold, flu and COVID-19, for individuals 2 years of age and up. For more information, visit https://www.womenscollegehospital.ca/covid-19-information/covidcoldflu/
About Women’s College Hospital
For more than 100 years Women’s College Hospital (WCH) has been developing revolutionary advances in healthcare. Today, WCH is a world leader in the health of women and Canada’s leading academic ambulatory hospital. A champion of health equity, WCH advocates for the health of all women from diverse cultures and backgrounds and ensures their needs are reflected in the care they receive. It focuses on delivering innovative solutions that address Canada’s most pressing issues related to population health, patient experience and system costs. The WCH Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV) is developing new, scalable models of care that deliver improved outcomes for patients and sustainable solutions for the health system. www.womenscollegehospital.ca
For further information, please contact:
Amanda Etty
Communications Advisor | Strategic Communications
Women’s College Hospital
T: 437-246-3045 | E: amanda.etty@wchospital.ca