Bringing You A New Concept in Adolescent Health Care Services

In September 1999, a task group formed to look at the delivery of health services to Rideau District High School students. The partners in this project were the Country Roads Community Health Centre (CHC) , the high school (RDHS) and the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Health Unit (LG&LDHU). The purpose of this new clinic was to offer students easy access to a full range of health services. This new concept was possible as both the CHC and LG&LDHU had embraced the use of Nurse Practitioners in their settings. The Nurse Practitioner (NP) is able to diagnose, investigate and treat many common illnesses. She is trained to care for those who have chronic illnesses and those healthy individuals seeking care and treatment for acute illness and sexual health issues. The clinic opened in February 2000, and was evaluated at the end of the school year. As a result of the evaluation, the duration of the clinic was increased from 4 hours/week to eight and two additional partners were brought into the clinic setting, an additional NP from the Seeley's Bay Medical Centre and a mental health worker from Children's and Adolescents' Mental Health Services. As this clinic came into being because of an expressed need by the high school community, the clinic services are constantly being evaluated to ensure that the clinic continues to adapt to the changing needs of this population.

The purpose of this new clinic was to offer students easy access to a full range of health services.