A new way to access care, together

Like many hospitals, we are seeing more people come to the emergency department for concerns that could be safely treated in other settings.

This pilot is one way we are testing how to further improve access to timely care in the community - supporting primary care attachment and reducing avoidable pressure on hospital emergency departments.

The pilot focuses on a small number of locations in Mississauga neighbourhoods where we see higher rates of emergency department visits for non-life-threatening issues. By testing this model in these communities, we can better understand how to connect people to the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

This service is intended for adults (18+) with worsening or urgent health concerns that would otherwise lead them to seek care in the emergency department, but that are not life-threatening.

During this pilot, pharmacists at three Mississauga Shoppers Drug Mart locations can assess customers, and based on that assessment, can connect those with worsening or urgent health concerns to a same-day virtual visit with a Trillium Health Partners doctor or nurse practitioner. If the customer would like to proceed, the virtual visit will be in a private room within the pharmacy, dedicated to Trillium Health Partners Virtual Care.

During your virtual appointment with a Trillium Health Partners physician or nurse practitioner, you will receive a clinical assessment that may include a review of your symptoms and medical history, measurement of key biometrics (blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels, temperature), and a physical exam, such as listening to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope.

Based on your clinical needs, a plan of care will be developed to support you safely in the community. This may include a prescription, advice on treatment and symptom management, or referrals for follow-up tests and care, such as:

• Diagnostic testing and follow-up, including lab tests and imaging (e.g., X-rays, ultrasounds)
• Referrals to specialized care, including direct referrals to specialists and clinics such as cardiology, respirology, and renal care

If your encounter with the Trillium Health Partners doctor or nurse practitioner results in a prescription, you can choose to have that dispensed at your preferred pharmacy.

No appointment is necessary, you can visit a participating location. You can also schedule an appointment with the pharmacist on Shoppers Drug Mart's website. Based on the pharmacist's assessment, for urgent issues, you can be virtually connected with a Trillium Health Partners doctor or nurse practitioner onsite.

If, based on your assessment by the pharmacist, the pharmacist connects you to a virtual visit with a Trillium Health Partners doctor or nurse practitioner and you would like to proceed, you can be seen within a short period of time while you are in the pharmacy.

The goal is to provide timely access to care without the need to wait in the emergency department for non-life-threatening urgent concerns.

Family doctors remain the most responsible provider for your care.

If you have a Primary Care Provider (family doctor), we recommend speaking with them first.

Family doctors remain the most responsible providers for ongoing care, and information from the virtual visit will be shared back to support continuity. Pharmacists at these locations will also help people who do not currently have a primary care provider get attached to one for ongoing care through Mississauga Health’s Access Primary Care service.

Our emergency departments are always available to those who need urgent or life-saving care.

If you are experiencing a serious or life-threatening condition, you should immediately go to the nearest emergency department or call 911.

This pilot is designed to support people who are seen by a pharmacist with less urgent concerns, helping them access care more quickly and closer to home when emergency care is not required.

Please bring your health card. If you are supporting a loved one, you can accompany them to the virtual visit.