The Martin Street Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) has seen over 17,000 visits since it opened 12 months ago.
On Thursday, the Martin Street UPCC celebrated one year of team-based health care in Penticton offering lunch to patients and those in need.
“The urgent and primary care centre has proven to be a valuable community resource in Penticton,” said Interior Health president and CEO Susan Brown. “Whether it’s being used to treat someone’s urgent care needs to prevent an unnecessary emergency department visit, or connecting people to mental health and substance use supports, it has seen more than 17,000 visits since opening last year.”
Located at 101 – 437 Martin Street, the UPCC provides longitudinal primary care services for people with mental health and substance use needs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, and then provides urgent primary care services from 5 to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday and 12 to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
During the day, services include mental health and substance-use health care, opioid agonist treatment, access to specialized mental health and substance use services like case management, women’s health support and counselling referrals.
READ MORE: Urgent and Primary Care Centre opens doors on Penticton’s Martin Street
During the evenings and weekends, the Penticton UPCC provides team-based care for non-emergency health concerns to individuals who require same day attention. Care is available for concerns such as minor injuries, sprains and strains, infections, less serious child illness and injury, high fever, and cuts, wounds or skin conditions.
“After injuring my knee during spring break, I called the Penticton urgent and primary care centre to have it checked out. The staff were great and I was able to see a physiotherapist and have it looked at right away,” said Peter Verge, a Penticton community member. “If it wasn’t for this place, I would have ended up in the emergency department.”
During a visit, someone may be seen by a physician, a nurse practitioner, a registered nurse, or another health professional such as a social worker, mental health worker, or a physiotherapist, depending on their needs.
The $2.5 million centre provides over 6,000 square-feet of space for the urgent and primary care centre, including a reception and waiting area, exam rooms, consultation rooms and other rooms.
“It’s great working in a multi-disciplinary team as this makes caring for a patient very easy,” said Dr. Wessel Joubert, physician lead for urgent care at the Penticton UPCC.
Interior Health has seven Urgent and Primary Care Centres located in Castlegar, Cranbrook, Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon and West Kelowna.
Patients can call 250-770-3696 during daytime hours to book an urgent care appointment for evenings and weekends.