SARS clinic opens in Markham

NEWMARKET - The Province of Ontario and the Regional Municipality of York Health Services Department in collaboration with Markham-Stouffville Hospital is opening a dedicated SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) Assessment Clinic at 6824 Hwy. 7 at the Ninth Line in Markham on Tuesday April 1^st.

The clinic will open its doors at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday. It will assess and screen those people who are concerned that they may have exposed to or have contracted SARS, but not those people who have already been diagnosed. Clinic staff will ensure that people who have been exposed are safely isolated and cared for in an environment that will help contain the spread of SARS.

The hours of the SARS Assessment Clinic will be:

Weekdays (Monday to Friday) 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Weekends (Saturday and Sunday) 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Outside of these hours, people should contact York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. Monday through Sunday, or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000, or go to the closest open hospital emergency room.

People visiting the clinic are reminded of the following:

• Bring no more than one attendant with you to the clinic
• Patients requiring an interpreter are requested to attempt to bring one with them to the clinic
• Bring your Ontario Health Card
• The role of the clinic is solely as a temporary assessment clinic for people who believe they may have been exposed to SARS. It should not be confused with a regular medical walk-in clinic or a hospital Emergency Department

What to Expect at the Clinic:

• Visitors to the clinic will be given a protective mask prior to entering the clinic
• Visitors will be greeted by a Registered Nurse who will do a preliminary assessment
• Those patients who need to see a physician will be seen
• The clinic will be staffed by Physicians, Registered Nurses, X-ray and Lab technicians and is equipped to perform diagnostic testing including chest x-rays and laboratory work
• Visitors who are determined to be ill will be transferred to a hospital where more acute services are available
• All others will be given appropriate instructions and counselling, based on their needs
• Visitors are advised that wait times at the clinic cannot be guaranteed

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CONTACT INFORMATION –

• People who don't have any symptoms but have general queries about SARS can call Ontario's Health Infoline at 1-888-668-4636 for more information or can check the ministry website at http://www.health.gov.on.ca.
• If you have no symptoms but have been to The Scarborough Hospital, Grace Division between March 16 and March 25th, please call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 to get further direction.
• If you have no symptoms but have been to the York Central Hospital in Richmond Hill between March 16 and March 28th, please call York Region Public Health Unit at 1-800-361-5653 to get further direction.
• People who are in home isolation and have any concerns should phone their local public health unit (check ministry website for telephone numbers).

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Note to Media: Dr. Hanif Kassam, Acting Medical Officer of Health for York Region, and Mr. Lorne Zon, Vice-President, Markham-Stouffville Hospital, will meet with the media outside the clinic at 8:00 a.m.

Contact: Patrick Casey, Senior Media Relations Specialist, York Region

• (905) 830-4444, ext. 1235
• (905) 715-8211 (Cell)
• Email: patrick.casey@region.york.on.ca