A new health home in New Glasgow is expanding access to primary care while also helping support the next generation of healthcare professionals.
The Highland Health Home and Learning Centre combines patient care with professional development and simulation-based learning for healthcare workers. The new health home opened to patients in early September, and the collaborative learning centre will be fully operational later this year.
This is another important step in our PC government’s work to strengthen healthcare, improve access to primary care and support training closer to home for communities across Nova Scotia.
“I’m incredibly proud that with this new health home, our government is bringing more healthcare, faster to our community,” said Danny MacGillivray, MLA for Pictou Centre, on behalf of Michelle Thompson, PC Minister of Health and Wellness. “This health home is a first for our community and our province, as it will increase access to primary healthcare for residents and help to train more healthcare professionals closer to home.”
The Westville Medical Clinic has relocated to the new clinic and expanded, with capacity for about 3,000 more people from the Need a Family Practice Registry.
The goal is to enhance the care team to include more roles such as pharmacist, social worker, dietitian, nurse practitioner, chronic disease management nurse, family practice nurses, continuing care co-ordinator, administrative assistants, care team assistant and physician assistant. Recruitment is also underway to add three new physicians.
The health home has two simulation exam rooms that will be used to support healthcare professionals who are actively learning and specializing in their fields, and a simulation specialist and clinical nurse educator will also be hired.
With 31 exam rooms, meeting rooms, office space and a family room reserved for conversations about care, breastfeeding support, accommodating sensory needs and more, the Highland Health Home and Learning Centre will serve as a proof-of-concept model that will be evaluated for expansion to other health homes across the province.