PUBLIC NOTICE: Service Level Update – Fort Smith, September 20, 2023

Public Notice

(Fort Smith, September 20, 2023) – The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority is providing notice to residents about service levels in Fort Smith and preparations that are ongoing as community re-entry begins.

As we return to services, increased use of surgical face masks may be required temporarily in NTHSSA Clinical Areas: NTHSSA will be encouraging masking in facilities for a period of time after return in an effort to reduce the impacts of respiratory viruses on our workforce and ability to deliver services. It is expected that respiratory viruses will be on the increase heading into fall and a mass-migration of residents from areas in southern Canada makes masking a smart choice and a simple thing we can do to assist in preserving health care capacity as we ramp up services. People may see more health care providers masking and asking for masking in the next few weeks to achieve this goal.

This update is intended to show service levels as of September 20th. 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

SERVICE LEVELS AS OF SEPTEMBER 20^TH 2023
REGION	SERVICE	STATUS	CAPACITY
Territorial	Medical Travel Appointments Scheduled for Edmonton	Please see this public notice. Fort Smith residents who are currently evacuated and have a scheduled Medical Travel appointment outside of the NWT during the week of September 18-22^nd should contact the clinic where their appointment referral originated to confirm their appointment and review evacuee supports and/or initiate medical travel benefits. For Fort Smith residents needing to confirm appointments please call: 867-621-0415 or 867-621-2868
Territorial	Office of Client Experience, System Navigation, and Indigenous Patient Advocates	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.
Fort Smith	Emergency Department	Normal Services – 24-hour on-site service has resumed	100%
Fort Smith	Inpatient Care Unit	Normal Services - Inpatients will be admitted as required. Transfer to another facility may be required if the patient care needs or volume surpass capacity.	4/5 beds
Fort Smith	Midwifery	Reduced Services - Until Sept 21st in the morning, women with urgent concerns can present to the ER. From the 21st on, services will return to pre-evacuation status with pre and post-natal care provided in the community but planned births taking place in Yellowknife
Fort Smith	Lab and Diagnostic Imaging	Normal Services - Out-patient collections and digital imaging at full capacity.	100%
Fort Smith	Primary Care	Reduced – Urgent care walk-in will be available until September 22. Limited scheduled appointments based on priority.	50%
Fort Smith	Public Health	Reduced: Services available include: Well Women’s Clinic, STI screening/treatment, and dietician services. No immunizations available.	75%
Fort Smith	Home Care	Reduced - gradual return to full capacity as clients return	75%
Fort Smith	Community Counseling (Adult, Child and Youth & Mental Health Nursing)	Reduced - limited same day appointments available beginning September 20. Remote support available. Details on supports available here. Specialized on-site post-evacuation support available to community members upon request	35%
Fort Smith	Rehab (occupational therapy, physiotherapy, audiology, and speech language pathology)	Reduced – limited physiotherapy appointments available based on priority.	50%
Fort Smith	Child and Family Services	Normal Services	100%
Fort Smith	Northern Lights Special Care Home	Closed: facility requires physical preparation and health services must be fully operational for safe return of residents.	0%

Patient/Client Notification
Families of those who normally reside in the Northern Lights Special Care Home will be contacted when plans are finalized about repatriation of these residents.

For residents of long term care or those who are in-hospital in Alberta, please see the previous public notice providing guidance on supports.

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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