MONTREAL — Quebec Health Minister Gaetan Barrette has announced a plan to introduce 50 so-called superclinics in the province to offer front-line health services and ease the crush of cases in emergency rooms.
"We are one step closer to strengthening and consolidating the organization of medical services for the entire population of Quebec," Barrette said Monday.
"Complementing services offered by family medicine groups, the superclinic model will reduce the waiting time for emergencies and provide faster access to primary care and specialized services."
Barrette, who is hoping to have the clinics operating by 2018, said those who'd benefit in particular are people still looking for a family doctor.
Superclinic locations won't be determined by real-estate developers, he added. Sites, mainly in urban and semi-urban areas, will be chosen by the government and will depend on the needs of the population.
"We don't want superclinics opening just anywhere," Barrette said. "They will be distributed selectively."
The clinics must be open at least 12 hours a day, seven days a week — with operating hours falling between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
They will be expected to increase consultations during peak medical emergency times — for example, when there is a flu epidemic.
The clinics will be required to offer a minimum of 20,000 consultations yearly and 80 per cent of those must be given to people who don't have a family doctor or ones whose doctor doesn't operate out of the clinic.
They must offer a blood-testing clinic on site and have an agreement with a medical-imaging facility.
Barrette said the clinics would be subject to a yearly review to ensure they were meeting performance and service targets. If not, they will risk having their accreditation revoked.
