Urgent Care Clinic To Open in Jakobstad on 2 February – Improved Access to Care Will Also Shorten Waiting Times

The urgent care clinic treats acute conditions. What distinguishes the urgent care clinic from the accident and emergency (A&E) department is that the patient does not require immediate treatment, but it is sufficient that care is provided on the same day. Until now, such patients in Jakobstad have mainly been treated at the A&E department. The staff involved in planning the change have paid special attention to families seeking care for their children.

– It’s not pleasant to have to wait a long time in the waiting room with a sick child. We can book an appointment at the urgent care clinic, allowing families to wait calmly at home with the child, says Hanna Ahlsved, Chief Physician at Jakobstad’s A&E department.

The urgent care clinic in Jakobstad is located in the same premises as the A&E department and works in close cooperation with it.

How the Urgent Care Clinic Works

• Book an appointment by calling 06 218 9000, or via chat, or through the Wellbeing Services County’s ÖVPH app or website.
  • The staff will assess how urgent your issue is and book an appointment for you. If necessary, you will be referred to the A&E department.
  • You will also receive advice by phone or chat on what you can do to feel better before your visit.
• Wait comfortably at home and come to the clinic at the agreed time.
• You may also be given an appointment for a remote doctor’s consultation.

Aiming for Smoother Service and Shorter Waiting Times

The opening of the urgent care clinic has been planned jointly by staff from both the A&E department and the health centre. The main architects of the reform are Chief Physician Hanna Ahlsved, Responsible Physician Johanna Gripenberg, and Head Nurses Siv Käld-Aspfors and Marlene Widner.

– The aim is to offer a better customer experience and to reduce the workload at the A&E department. Patients don’t have to wait, and at the same time it becomes easier to plan our staff’s work, says Head Nurse Siv Käld-Aspfors.

The change does not affect the A&E department’s opening hours in Jakobstad. Appointments for the urgent care clinic can be booked by calling 06 218 9000 on Mon–Thu at 8:00–15:00 and on Fri at 8:00–14:00. On evenings and weekends, patients should call the toll-free medical helpline 116 117 before going to the A&E department.

Nurse’s Chat Now Open to Everyone

A digital nurse’s and doctor’s consultation service has been available to all residents of the Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia since 15 January. The service is a chat conversation accessible via the website and the ÖVPH app. Through the chat, you can receive advice and have your situation assessed by a nurse. If necessary, you will be referred to a doctor either directly via the chat or through an in-person appointment.

To use the nurse’s chat, you must authenticate yourself securely using your personal online banking credentials or mobile certificate. After identification, you will be asked to answer questions about the reason for your contact. The nurse will then review your responses when joining the chat. The average waiting time in the nurse’s chat is usually less than 13 minutes. Mondays and mornings are generally the busiest times.