COVID-19 assessment and test collection is now available at the Powell River Complex Clinic, a new site opened by Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and Powell River Division of Family Practice (PRDoFP). Located on the upper level of Powell River Recreation Complex, the clinic will provide additional capacity to assess local residents for COVID-19.
“Thanks to the dedication and efforts of our VCH staff and managers, PRDoFP and community partners, we are taking this important step to expand our ability to assess and screen patients for COVID-19 in Powell River as flu season approaches,” stated Mélie De Champlain, VCH director, Powell River Community of Care, in a media release.
The complex clinic is now providing COVID-19 assessment and test collection, seven days a week from 8:30 to 11:30 am. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms can request an appointment by calling 604.485.2028. More information and online booking is available at prcomplexclinic.com.
According to the release, two specially designed exam rooms on the upper level of the recreation complex will be used to safely see patients for in-person assessment. In order to ensure safety of recreation complex patrons, these exam rooms are accessed through separate entrances. Assessments will be by referral from doctors or nurse practitioners only, the release stated.
Initially, in-person assessments will be conducted five days a week from 12:30 to 3:30 pm, though hours may change depending on demand. Operation of the clinic will not impact programming offered in the lower level of the complex clinic.
“We aim for these services to provide rapid access to COVID-related health care and protect frontline health-care workers,” stated Dr. David May, PRDoFP board chair. “I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to get this up and running.”
Test collection for COVID-19 will also continue to be available at the emergency department in Powell River General Hospital, as needed.
COVID-19 assessment and test collection is available for all who need it but not everyone requires a test, the release stated. Testing is not recommended for people without symptoms. People can use the BC COVID-19 self-assessment toolto help determine if they need further assessment for COVID-19 by a health-care provider or at a local collection centre. People can complete this assessment for themselves, or on behalf of someone else, if they are unable to do this. It is available at bc.thrive.health.
Identifying new cases of COVID-19 in a timely manner is important to help prevent community spread of the virus, and this new clinic will contribute to those efforts, the release stated.
VCH continues to monitor cases throughout the region. For more information on COVID-19 and testing, go to vch.ca/COVID-19.
