Private clinic says it's filling gap in health care, but doctors' group worried

Anew private health clinic in Halifax offering out-of-pocket treatment for non-emergency care is proof ofa troubled public health-care system, says the province's medical association.

Doctors Nova Scotia, which represents more than 3,500 physicians, said the primary care services offered at theUnified Health Community Triage Centre should be delivered under the public system.

He said agroup of physicians from around the province will meetSaturdayand the new clinic is one of the items for discussion on its agenda.

The clinic, which opened Aug. 1 on Joseph Howe Drive, offers the services of a nurse practitioner and some therapists, such as an osteopath and chiropractor, but does not have a medical doctor on-site.

It launched as a pilot project with the goal of speeding up waits for non-emergency medical care and easing the strain on crowded ERs.

"We call it a community triage centre. The purpose is to kind of relieve emergency services of the non-emergency cases," saidAlan Attwater, president ofUnified Health.

On its website, Unified Health says its model "alleviates the bottleneck of patients in emergency rooms and hospitals by directing them to the right practitioners for their specific needs."

The clinic'sservices are not covered under the province's public health insurance.

There is a $35 charge for a 15-minute appointment with a nurse practitioner. Other services, such as massage therapy, mental-health counselling, chiropractorand osteopathy, are separate charges, either paid for by the patient orprivate health insurance.

"You can do walk-ins or you can do appointments with continuing care, with a record of your health as it progresses," Attwater said.

"We are also looking at setting up afacility that is more like a traditional doctor's office with MDs and nurse practitioners, and some lab services on site."

According to theCollege of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia, anurse practitioner in theprovincecan prescribe any medication with the exception of cannabis as well as certain anabolic steroids thatare limited under theFederal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

It isn't illegal for nurse practitioners in Nova Scotiato charge a fee for services provided to a client, the college said in an email to CBCNews. Theyare not permitted to bill to MSI since "this is a physician-only payment model."

The centre does not receive any funding from the provincial government,aspokesperson from the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness said.

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