People in Amherst and the surrounding area now have better access to primary healthcare they can count on.
Two nurse practitioners and a family practice nurse are seeing patients at a new collaborative family practice clinic on Prince Arthur Street in Amherst. A family doctor will start there next month, and a pharmacist and social worker will also be doing rotations.
“The people of Amherst and Cumberland County deserve more access to primary healthcare. That is exactly what we are building,” said Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness. “We know access to primary care is a top priority for Nova Scotians and it is for this government, too. This is just one of 60 new and expanded teams we are creating to help more Nova Scotians get the care they need across the province.”
The new Amherst clinic opened to patients June 8. Providing the care Nova Scotians need and deserve is part of Action for Health, the government’s plan to improve healthcare.
Quotes:
We know that healthcare providers prefer to work as a team, alongside each other. They recognize that providing care in a highly functioning collaborative group not only ensures that patients receive high quality and safe care, but also allows our care providers to work in a way that is sustainable and rewarding. This new clinic will mean that we can continue to be successful recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals in this community and that patients will be seen by the most appropriate healthcare provider for their needs.
Dr. Aaron Smith, Medical Executive Director, Northern Zone, Nova Scotia Health
As a healthcare professional and life-long resident of Amherst, it’s very rewarding to be able to give back to my community. The clinic is guided by the collaborative practice model, which means we work together, across our specialties, to ensure our patients have access to the best care to enhance their overall health.
Laura Conrad, nurse practitioner, Amherst Collaborative Family Practice Clinic
Quick Facts:
- a collaborative clinic has at least three healthcare providers working together to care for patients
- in May, the Province announced $17 million to build and strengthen 60 new clinics across the province
- strengthening a clinic or team refers to increased staffing, funding and/or renovations
- the locations of the 60 new and strengthened clinics by Nova Scotia Health zone are: 12 in northern, 17 in eastern, 14 in central and 17 in western
Additional Resources:
More information on the 60 new and expanded clinics across the province is available at: https://novascotia.ca/news/docs/2023/05/10/primary-healthcare-announcement-fact-sheet.pdf
The government recently added more data about access to primary healthcare to its online dashboard at the Action for Health website: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth
News release - New and Expanded Primary Healthcare Clinics Boost Access Across the Province: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230510002
Mandate letter of the Minister of Health and Wellness: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-DHW.pdf
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