The Sudbury District Nurse Practitioner Clinics (SDNPC) opened its doors to patients during the summer of 2007.

The Sudbury District Nurse Practitioner Clinics (SDNPC) website is designed to inform our patients, and Canadians interested in access to primary health care, about our services and news. As the first Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic in Canada, our Mission is to provide comprehensive primary health care through an interdisciplinary approach.

NP-led clinics provide comprehensive primary care with a team approach.  Each patient is registered to the clinic and sees their NP for the majority of their health care needs.  Physicians are part of the team and available on site to collaborate on more complex care issues.  Our team is also comprised of a Pharmacist, Registered Nurse, Social Worker, and Dietitian.  Orphan patients live in fear of ending up in the hospital, or even becoming an ALC statistic, by nature of the sporadic care they receive at walk-in clinics and overcrowded Emergency Departments.  NP-led clinics are part of the solution to Ontario's growing primary health care challenge.

Some highlights about us (click links to learn more):

• Awards & Recognition
• Backgrounder (English)
• Renseignements Concernant la Clinique (Français)
• What is a Nurse Practitioner
• Organizational Chart
• Weblinks

 

The Nurse Practitioner Solution

        "I have no regular provider who knows me!"

Have you ever been an orphan patient? Have you ever experienced a period of time when you had no access to a regular primary care giver who knows you and your history? As nurse practitioners, we found ourselves with a solution to this serious issue a few short years ago, at a time when nurse practitioners (NPs) were still having a difficult time obtaining employment in Ontario.

With ALC numbers and Wait Times climbing, we decided to put together a team and attempt the launch of Canada's first ever NP-led primary clinic.

We are now serving thousands of  patients in our Sudbury and Lively sites. Every one of  our patients was previously without a family doctor or primary health care provider. They span all age groups, come from all walks of life, and have every health need you can think of, from maintaining healthy weight, to pregnancy, to childhood illness, mental health challenges, and chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.  

25 NP-led clinics are being opened in Ontario, and we look forward to celebrating every new patient who will finally have access to regular primary care. Click here to see where each clinic is.

What is a Nurse Practitioner? Nurse Practitioners (NPs) have additional education and advanced decision-making skills in the assessment and diagnosis of acute illnesses and injuries and in the management of  chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension. They have the knowledge and authority to prescribe certain medications. They are authorized to order laboratory tests, x-rays and other diagnostic tests. They may also refer to other health professionals. NPs provide care to patients of all ages.

Special thanks.

The development of this clinic was possible due to the support of many, including:

• the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, which announced funding for the project in November 2006
• Sudbury area nurse practitioners
• the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
• the Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario
• the City of Greater Sudbury
• Chapleau Health Services and The Township of Chapleau
• Our site is in development and offers a growing number of articles, photos and video information about our health care services, programs, partners, news and more.

Sincerely,

Board of Directors