Thorhild Medical Clinic is here for you

By Brandie Majeau

              When the last doctor practicing in Thorhild County wrote up his resignation, there was no one willing to step in and fill his shoes, serving patients in this small rural area.  The council serving at that time decided they didn’t want to lose having a medical service in the area.  This resulted in a huge undertaking to create a nurse practitioner-led medical clinic.  Carolyn Sedlowsky, Manager of Community Services, recalled what a huge learning curve it was to set up.  They utilized every resource available, including doctors and pharmacists guiding them on what would be needed.

              Thorhild County Family Medical Clinic opened its doors five years ago.  Colleen Cartier, Nurse Practitioner, has been meeting medical needs for the community ever since.  What many patients fail to realize is that there is no doctor overseeing the facility, while it may be confusing, there is no need for one.  Cartier has advanced medical education that gives her the ability to not only perform routine baby checks and care for colds and the flu, but she also offers annual medicals and can treat, diagnose, and assess a huge variety of ailments just as a general practitioner could.  She can prescribe and renew medications, order bloodwork, lab tests and diagnostic imaging, and can perform women’s medical health procedures. Cartier provides ongoing care to monitor and adjust treatments that are best for her patients.

              “It’s nice for the community to have this resource and the community appreciates having these resources available.”  Cartier continued to discuss how convenient this clinic is for community members that have issues like lack of transportation, patients that have found themselves without a family doctor, or people that are in a bind because they cannot get in to see their doctor for weeks. Cartier also commented that mental health is becoming a serious issue.  She will work with the patient to discuss where they are at and a method of treatment, but like all assessments that may become more complex health issues, she can refer patients to appropriate care.  Cartier routinely collaborates with home care providers, public health nurses, pharmacists and doctors.  She also visits the lodge once a week to provide in-house care for the residents there.

              Cartier commented several times that “it’s just me” or referred to the office as a one-man show.  While that may seem disadvantageous for a medical clinic, Cartier enjoys the freedom it allows.  She schedules her own clients allowing her to book enough time to give each person the care and time they need.  She stressed that the goal is not to get people in and get them out; it is to provide proper treatment and be able to give reassurances when people are losing faith in our healthcare system.  She also enjoys being the one to oversee everything from start to finish.  Her responsibility begins with the patient but continues with the management of their charts, analysing test results, and providing adequate follow-up.  The past 2-3 years have brought many changes allowing nurse practitioners more responsibilities, and the ability to provide more care similar to a general practitioner.

              Sedlowsky commented on what a unique endeavor Thorhild Medical Clinic is.  She stated that there are not a lot of clinics out there that are nurse practitioner-led and operated.  Thorhild has also helped two other communities set up nurse practitioner clinics since their opening. This clinic also supports a couple of students a year to earn practicum hours for their education. They are intrigued because in most settings they only see a portion of the medical practice.  This small clinic offers them the ability to see all aspects of the medical process.  Sedlowsky said she does not want the public to be fooled; just because the medical title says nurse practitioner, Thorhild County Family Medical Clinic is a full facility that can take care of all your health and medical needs.