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Niagara Health Says Virtual Program Reducing Emergency Visits

Program connecting family doctors to health care specialists reducing emergency visits to Niagara Health.

Niagara Health says a new program is helping cut down on visits to the emergency department. 

The SCOPE Niagara program, which launched in May, virtually connects family doctors and nurse practitioners to Niagara Health specialists. 

To date, the program has received over 160 calls for a variety of issues. 

This includes support with general internal medicine and diagnostic imaging. 

"As one of 16 SCOPE hubs in Ontario, the program, which works closely with primary care providers in Niagara, helps to reduce ED visits and hospital re-admissions," says Heather Paterson, Interim Executive Vice-President, Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Executive, Niagara Health. "The program allows family physicians and nurse practitioners to phone into the SCOPE nurse navigator to receive quick access to urgent testing for their patients who would have needed to go to the ED otherwise."

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