Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre

Appropriate health concerns for the VTAC can include:

• Urinary tract infections;
• Recent sore throat;
• Skin problems or rashes;
• Tick bites;
• Stomach discomfort without fever;
• Mild to moderate headaches;
• Mild breathing difficulties; and
• Other non-urgent health concerns.

Please note that the VTAC does not prescribe or renew prescriptions for controlled substances (for example: oxycodone, hydromorphone, Adderall, codeine, lorazepam, etc.), under any circumstances.

Call 911 immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department if you experience one or more of the following:

• Acute chest pain;
• Significant difficulty breathing;
• Confusion or disorientation;
• Loss of consciousness;
• Heavy bleeding;
• Severe abdominal pain;
• Signs and symptoms of a cardiac arrest;
• Medication overdose;
• Signs and symptoms of a stroke;
• Sudden and severe headache;
• Allergic reaction;
• Pale skin and excessive sweating;
• Seizures;
• Fever in an infant under 3 months of age; and/or
• Any life-threatening condition.

When booking your appointment, you will be asked to provide:

• your full name;
• your date of birth;
• your phone number;
• your email address;
• your home address;
• your valid Ontario Health Card number;
• your family physician or NP’s name, if applicable; and
• your pharmacy’s name.

Based on your needs, you may receive:

• an in-clinic appointment with a community paramedic;
• an in-clinic appointment with a nurse practitioner;
• a virtual appointment with a nurse practitioner; or
• a hybrid appointment with a community paramedic and a nurse practitioner.

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Nurse practitioners provide healthcare services autonomously and in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. They offer care to people of all ages and in various fields (primary care, acute care, and long-term care).

They are authorized to:

• perform comprehensive health assessments;
• establish and communicate diagnoses;
• prescribe medications;
• reduce and cast fractures and dislocations;
• order and interpret laboratory tests;
• request diagnostic imaging; and
• admit, treat, and discharge patients from hospitals.

Community Paramedic

Unlike their traditional role, focused primarily on emergency response, community paramedics conduct comprehensive health assessments and offer certain treatments directly in the community.

They:

• perform comprehensive medical assessments, including the symptom assessment, the checking of vital signs, and the medical history;
• monitor the evolution of health conditions;
• support individuals living with chronic conditions; and
• intervene when it is difficult to obtain an appointment with a family doctor or NP.

By working collaboratively with physicians, nurse practitioners, and other professionals, community paramedics improve access to care, reduce visits to Emergency Departments, and offer personalized support to patients.

Here are other options for accessing health care:

East Region Virtual Care Clinic

• Open 7 days a week, from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Phone: 1-888-684-1999
• Website

Health811

• Service available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week
• Call 8-1-1
• Website

Mental Health Crisis Line

• Service available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week
• Phone: 1-866-996-0991
• Website

Suicide Crisis Helpline

• Service available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week
• Call or text 9-8-8
• Website

AccessMHA

• For access to mental health and substance-use support services
• Website

You can register on the provincial waiting list from the Government of Ontario’s website.