PUBLIC NOTICE: Health and Social Service Update – Service levels for September 13th, 2023

Public Notice

(Yellowknife, September 13, 2023) – The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority is providing notice to residents about service levels in Yellowknife and preparations that are ongoing for further service ramp up post-evacuation as part of our recovery and resumption of services.

This update is intended to show service levels as of September 13th. Service capacity percentages are being provided where we are able as an expectation setting measures for the public. These numbers are based on best estimates of service levels from before evacuation to  current services and are informed by staffing levels, appointment volumes, or bed counts.

It is important to check back often for service levels. Services are positioned to ramp up with changes to levels expected often.

 

EXPECTED SERVICE LEVELS AS OF
SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2023

REGION

SERVICE

STATUS

CAPACITY

Territorial

Outpatient / Specialist /Prenatal  Appointments /Diagnostics  in  Yellowknife

 

 

Bookings for outpatient services resumed this week.  Appointments will be rescheduled based on external support availability (boarding homes, scheduled flights) and system capacity. As usual, virtual appointments will be booked to facilitate timely consultations where appropriate.

We appreciate your patience as we work to re-book cancelled appointments from the evacuation period, and to schedule new appointments for those who are awaiting new referrals or follow-ups.  Non-urgent bookings may be delayed.

 

Stanton Eye Clinic resumed normal operations as of Tuesday, Sept 12th.

 

Territorial

Medical Travel Appointments Scheduled for Edmonton

Residents who are currently evacuated and have a scheduled Medical Travel appointment outside of the NWT during the week of September 11-15th should contact the clinic where their appointment referral originated to confirm their appointment and review evacuee supports and/or initiate medical travel benefits.    

For Yellowknife residents they can contact the clinic where their referral originated as these are now all operating regular hours.

For Fort Smith needing to confirm appointments please call: 867-621-0415 or 867-621-2868   

 

 

Territorial

Office of Client Experience, System Navigation, and Indigenous Patient Advocates

Closed in: Hay River, Fort Smith

Navigation services are available and providing service territory-wide. Contact the Office of Client Experience at: HSS_Clientexperience@gov.nt.ca or call our toll free line at (1-855- 846- 9601) for more information.

 

STH

Stanton Territorial Hospital Emergency Department

Normal service levels in the emergency department have been established and these services are available to support communities throughout the NWT using usual pathways.
 

 

100%

STH

Inpatient Acute Care Unit

Slightly Reduced - Patient type and acuity levels that can be admitted reflect the available nursing and physician resources.
 

 

20/28 beds

STH

Surgical services & Inpatient Surgical Unit

Reduced Emergency surgical services only this week. Bookings for elective surgeries are expected to resume next week. The inpatient Surgical Unit will be open at full capacity as of Wednesday September 13th.

40%, 10/10 beds

STH

Surgical day procedures (Endoscopy)

Reduced - Coordination and booking of endoscopy consultations and teaching have begun. By the end of the week, we expect procedures to begin.  

50%

STH

Chemotherapy

Re-opened as of Monday, September 11th. Those requiring this service will be contacted to establish their treatment schedule.

100%

STH

Dialysis

Re-opened as of Wednesday, September 13th. Yellowknife residents will be contacted to establish their treatment schedule.

100%

STH

Intensive Care Unit

Reduced – The number of ICU beds is slightly reduced.

As is the usual procedure for critical care, patient needs are assessed on a case-by-case basis in consideration of available nursing and physician resources. Some patient’s care needs may warrant transfer to another facility.

75%

STH

Extended Care

Closed - Residents transferred to southern facilities.

0%

STH

Psychiatry Unit

Re-opened at partial capacity on Friday September 8th and now at full inpatient capacity as of Tuesday September 12th.
 

100%

STH

Pediatrics Unit

Re-opened as of Tuesday, September 12th.

 

 

100%

STH

Obstetrics Unit

Reduced – on September 13th STH obstetrics remains emergency only; urgent care of pregnant individuals, including laboring will be provided.

On September 14th Obstetrics will open to full services.

Pregnant individuals who were 33 weeks on September 6th – and who were asked to not return to Yellowknife - are being contacted directly on September 13th and 14th to discuss repatriation and answer questions.

If you are in this group and have not yet returned to Yellowknife, you will be contacted prior to Friday, September 15th.

If you are not contacted in this time and have questions, you can reach the Stanton Obstetrics team at 867-669-4155.

Any individuals who are 37 weeks pregnant or more as of September 13th will need to speak with a physician in their current location to discuss ability to travel home. Travel by road is highly discouraged due to the length of the trip, ongoing risk of travel disruptions, intermittent cellular coverage and closure of services in Fort Smith and Hay River.

Pregnant individuals from NWT communities that are still under evacuation orders may choose to stay in their current location as evacuee supports are not available in Yellowknife.

Prenatal medical records can be faxed, a process and contact for this is published on the NTHSSA website.

0%

STH/YK

Lab and Diagnostic Imaging

Open

STH Lab and DI services will be operating at full capacity starting September 9th.

Normal Outpatient hours will also resume

Monday to Friday 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
 

Yellowknife Primary Care Laboratory will resume outpatient collection services on September 18th 09:00 am.

 

95%

 

STH

Indigenous Wellness Program

On-site services to resume as of Monday, September 11th.

100%

Yellowknife

Primary Care

Reduced – Same Day access and rescheduled appointments at both clinic locations 0830 -1600. Same Day appointments are available on Thursday September 14 until 2030 and Saturday September 16 from 1000 to 1530. Call (867) 767-9294 for Same Day appointments.

85%

Yellowknife

Public Health

Open – Full services available. Appointments rescheduled.

100%

Yellowknife

Home Care

Open – Full services available.

100%

Yellowknife

Community Counseling (Adult, Child and Youth & Mental Health Nursing)

Reduced - Open for same-day appointments from 0900-1600, call (867) 767-9110 to book. Remote support available. Details on supports available here.

75%

Yellowknife

Rehab (occupational therapy, physiotherapy, audiology, and speech language pathology)

Outpatient Services: Resumed

Inpatient services: Resumed

Outpatient: 100%

 Inpatient: 100%

Yellowknife

Sobering Centre

Open for overnight stays.

100%

Yellowknife

Day Shelter

Open – full services including meals, bathrooms, etc.

100%

*NOTE: The sobering and day centre were expected to open at 50% capacity based on staffing outlook, and this was reflected in the September 4-6 update.. Staffing was better than anticipated and full services resumed on the 6th.

Patient/Client Notification
Individuals who are impacted by service closures of dialysis, chemotherapy, IV therapy, and obstetrics (33 weeks of pregnancy and beyond or at risk of complications) will be directly contacted with information. When evacuee supports end for these individuals they will transition to medical travel. Cancer Navigation Services remain available.

During the week of September 11th, dialysis, chemotherapy and IV therapy patients accessing services in Yellowknife will be able to access services. These individuals are being contacted directly.

Further Updates
We remain committed to keeping residents informed and will continue to assess our service levels daily as the situation unfolds. Any service changes will be announced on the NTHSSA website and via our Facebook.

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