Drive-up clinic for mental health patients plugs gap during COVID

Virtual care has allowed doctors from CHEO to see even more patients for mental-health appointments this year than last, despite pandemic restrictions.

About 94 per cent of the hospital's outpatient mental-health appointments are being done virtually. But virtual care can't do everything, says CHEO's acting chief of psychiatry, Dr. Marjorie Robb.

In order to make sure necessary monitoring is also being done regularly, CHEO has created a driveup clinic to check the vital signs of children and youth accessing mental-health services there. The clinic, by appointment and referral only, is at CHEO's Montreal Road location.

Before the pandemic, patients would have their height, weight, heart rate and blood pressure assessed as part of regular in-person appointments to detect any potential problems and see how they were adjusting to new medication. Blood work could be ordered if needed.

Since the pandemic began, vital checks have, largely, been on hold. Robb said CHEO has found an innovative way to make sure they can now get done safely.

“Many of the kids and teens we care for need this in-person service and can't keep waiting for it,” Robb said.

“We are happy to be able to provide this important, in-person service in a way that makes them feel comfortable coming in, and is convenient, quick and, above all, safe.”

Within two weeks of the lockdown beginning in March, virtual appointments began for most mental-health outpatients, and doctors at CHEO are now seeing more children and youths in need of mental-health services than they did during the same period last year, Robb said.

The isolation and pressures of living through the pandemic have contributed to that, she said.

“The need is so high. There are so many kids that are having a tough time.”

Families with appointments at the Montreal Road vitals clinic are asked to fill out CHEO's self screening form and call the designated number before heading inside.