Wakaw Collaborative Emergency Centre (CEC) treats over 15,400 patients
September 17 marks the 10th anniversary of the Wakaw Collaborative Emergency Centre (CEC).
Since the Wakaw CEC opened its doors, more than 15,400 patients have received treatment at the CEC. That averages out to approximately 1,652 visits per year, or between four and five visits per day, 365 days of the year.
In that time, more than 86 per cent of patients have been triaged as semi or non-urgent, treated locally, and avoided a potential emergency room visit.
The Wakaw Primary Health and CEC delivers both appointment-based primary health care (PHC) services and access to after-hours urgent care through the CEC until midnight daily. Between 2015 and 2023, the number of annual visits to the CEC has steadily increased from 345 to over 1,000.
PHC services are currently delivered by a team of three physicians and one nurse practitioner between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with expanded access Wednesdays until 8 p.m. and Saturdays between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. One PHC practitioner is assigned to address any urgent/emergent walk-in patients with the support of a registered nurse (RN), providing basic emergency stabilization services.
Two paramedics are on-site seven days a week to triage patients during the period between the end of PHC clinic hours and midnight.
“Following assessment, patients accessing after-hours CEC services may receive treatment and be released, be advised to make an appointment to see a PHC provider the following day or may be transported by emergency medical services (EMS) to the most appropriate emergency room providing the level of treatment and care required,” said Kayla Burechailo, Director of Primary Health Care Northeast, Saskatchewan Health Authority. The Rosthern Hospital physician on-call provides medical consultation for patients seen at the CEC.
The Wakaw CEC is one of five operating in the province, including Maidstone, Shaunavon, Canora and Spiritwood. The Wakaw Primary Health and Collaborative Emergency Centre 10th anniversary will be celebrated with a barbecue on Tuesday, September 17 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.