City clinic established for women without family doctors

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BY Faculty of Health Sciences

March 9, 2006

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/womens-clinic.jpg” caption=”At the opening of the new Well Women Clinic on Upper Ottawa Street, Hamilton Mayor Larry DiIanni helps cut the ribbon with Dr. Julie Emili, associate medical officer of health for the city and Dr. Cheryl Levitt, chair of the Department of Family Medicine of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine.
Photo credit: Susan Emigh”]A new clinic for women ages 20 to 45 who do not have a family physician has been set up by the City of Hamilton's Public Health Services and McMaster's Department of Family Medicine.

The Well Women Clinic (WWC) will run at two locations: the Mountain Clinic at 1447 Upper Ottawa Street and the East End Clinic at 2255 Barton Street East, Unit #8. The focus of the care will be on women's health issues, and the services will include: pap tests, pregnancy/sexually transmitted infections testing, immunizations, emergency contraception, and birth control (including IUD insertion). Women with other medical problems will be referred appropriately. Family physicians and public health nurses will be providing the care in the WWC.

“This clinic meets an important need in Hamilton,” said Dr. Julie Emili, associate medical officer of health for the City of Hamilton, at reception to officially open the clinics. “Women without family physicians now have a place to go for comprehensive well woman care.”

The potential audience for the WWC is the estimated 9,700 Hamilton area women aged 20 to 45 without a family doctor.

Dr. Cheryl Levitt, chair of the department of family medicine for the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster said: “This clinic will offer an opportunity for residents and students to learn about women's health and to contribute to making health care in Hamilton for women even better.”

Appointments are required, and can be made by calling 905-546-2424, ext. 2011. Interpreters for women who do not speak English may be arranged with the appointment. Free child care is available at the East End clinic but must be pre-arranged.