Kids Come First Care Clinic and COVID-19 testing move to temporary new location at CHEO

Ottawa, Ontario, March 24, 2022 — The Kids Come First Care Clinic for COVID-19 has moved from the Brewer Arena to a temporary new location on CHEO’s main campus at 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa. COVID-19 testing for eligible children and youth has also moved from the Brewer Arena to CHEO.

The Kids Come First Care Clinic is now available at CHEO for in-person assessment and care of children and youth with viral illnesses, which include a fever, cough or runny nose. The clinic is staffed by community-based physicians who are partners in the Kids Come First Health Team. The clinic is by appointment only. Since opening in 2021, the Kids Come First Care Clinic has provided in-person assessment and care for over 6,000 children and youth who would not have received it elsewhere,

COVID-19 testing for children and youth who meet Ottawa Public Health criteria will also now be provided at the CHEO main campus. Children and youth who are eligible for testing can book an appointment to pick up and drop off a DIY test kit at CHEO main entrance, 401 Smyth Road.

Open for two years at the Brewer Park Arena, the CHEO COVID-19 Assessment Centre provided over 185,000 COVID-19 tests for children, youth and families.

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Media contact

media@cheo.on.ca

About Kids Come First Health Team

The Kids Come First Health Team includes 60+ partner organizations, 1,000+ physicians, and 2,500+ individuals who are committed to making child and youth health services easier to obtain; helping eastern Ontario’s Ontario Health Teams provide care to children and youth; and to supporting physicians and clinical leaders who provide care to children, youth and families. Our initial priority populations include: children and youth with mental health and addictions as well as those with medically complex needs.

About CHEO

Dedicated to the best life for every child and youth, CHEO is a global leader in pediatric health care and research. Based in Ottawa, CHEO includes a hospital, children’s treatment centre, school and research institute, with satellite services located throughout Eastern Ontario. CHEO provides excellence in complex pediatric care, research and education. We are committed to partnering with families and the community to provide exceptional care — where, when and how it’s needed. CHEO is a partner of the Kids Come First Health Team, a network of partners in Eastern Ontario working to create a high quality, standardized and coordinated system for pediatric health care that is centred around children, youth and their families. Every year, CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from Eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and Northern Ontario.