People living in Port Hawkesbury and surrounding communities now have better access to healthcare close to home at the new Port Hawkesbury Health Centre.
The health centre was formerly privately owned and called Island Gateway Medical Clinic. It recently became a Nova Scotia Health collaborative clinic, with renovations and an expanded team of healthcare professionals.
“Supporting clinics to become a health home for patients where a connected team of healthcare professionals can provide more comprehensive care is one way we’re improving access to primary healthcare in the province,” said PC Finance and Treasury Board Minister Allan MacMaster, MLA for Inverness, on behalf of PC Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson. “The expanded clinic and healthcare team will better support the care needs of patients in the community and reduce the number of people waiting for primary care.”
The healthcare team includes four physicians, a family practice nurse, a dietitian, social worker and four administrative staff. There are plans to add more staff this year, including a nurse practitioner, licensed practical nurse, care co-ordinator and administrative staff.
The clinic now includes eight more exam rooms and an enhanced phone and patient appointment reminder system. Patients can now choose to receive text messages or voicemail reminders for appointments.
It is an example of a health home, where patients receive comprehensive care from a team made up of doctors or nurse practitioners working with other healthcare professionals like nurses, dietitians and social workers.
Health homes provide the care Nova Scotians need and deserve and are part of Action for Health, our PC government’s plan to improve healthcare.
The expanded clinic will, over time, offer anyone in the area currently on the Need a Family Practice Registry a permanent primary care provider.