Herzl clinic a super success

Re: “Barrette launches Montreal’s 11th super clinic amid criticism” (Montreal Gazette, March 7)

We have been a comprehensive walk-in service for nine years before being designated as a super clinic last September.

Over the last nine years, we have provided and continue to provide access to radiological services, and we do take blood tests for all patients on site, when it is required for their appropriate care.

Becoming a super clinic has meant extending our service to include Saturday and Sunday evenings and being able to provide access to ultrasound services when it is required.

When we see that the volume of patients seeking care will exceed our closing time, we offer them an appointment to come back the next day if their condition allows it, and if not, we advise them to seek another walk-in clinic that can accommodate them.

The volume of patients we can take from the public is partly limited by a daily designated number of patients being sent to us from the emergency room.

We enjoy working at our walk-in and take pride in the care we have provided to many thousands of people over the years.

As doctors we are proud of the warm friendly atmosphere our support staff and nurses provide 12 hours a day, 365 days per year.

A recent evaluation of the services in our family practice centre conducted by the CIUSSS found that 97 per cent of patients would recommend us to their friends and family.

We are grateful to the Jewish General Hospital, the CIUSSS du Centre- Ouestde-l’Île-de-Montréal and the ministry of health for the support we are given. Michael Malus, chief of family medicine, Juan Gardie Suarez, medical director, Herzl Walk-In Centre, Jewish General Hospital