Family practice team expands
Since March 2023, nine new health-care professionals have joined the Digby Collaborative Family Practice team.
Based out of the Digby and Area Health Services Centre, the team also runs clinics in Weymouth and Bear River and supports the clinic at Islands Health Centre in Freeport.
"Patients and their families are already seeing a difference in the care they and their loved ones receive with a larger, more diverse healthcare team," Labour, Skills and Immigration Minister Jill Balser, MLA for Digby-Annapolis, said about the growth the collaborative team.
Since March, four family physicians, two nurse practitioners, a registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse, and a pharmacist have joined the team. Previously, the team included one family physician, two registered nurses, two nurse practitioners, a kinesiologist, and clerical support.
“Providers appreciate working in a team-based practice for several reasons – opportunities for mentorship and learning from colleagues, shared responsibility for patient care, collaboration and optimized scopes of practice, it supports new providers as they transition into practice, as well it enables smoother transitions into retirement,” Balser said.
"Coming from a small town myself, I recognize the importance of security in knowing healthcare is accessible,” said nurse practitioner Jaimlyn Wheatley. “I appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with the Bear River and Area Community Health Clinic and am eager to develop professional working relationships with residents as one of their care partners."
Added Daphne Demaine, also a nurse practitioner,
"The primary care service that is provided to the Weymouth community has been very well received. It is accessible and barrier free. I have received messages from the people of Weymouth who have come to the clinic for primary care that they are glad that the clinic is open again and appreciate that we are providing primary care weekly."
The clinics are aimed at giving people more access to health services – namely those without a family doctor – while also taking strain off the emergency department at the Digby General Hospital.
“Without clinics like this, we see more people visiting emergency departments for issues that aren't an emergency,” Balser said.
Prior to the recruitment of the new health-care providers, the Digby Family Practice team was able to make primary appointments available to patients without a primary care provider.
“Unattached patients could receive care from the team, but not necessarily become patients of the practice or be removed from the Need a Family Practice Registry,” Balser said. “Now, with the Digby Family Practice team in place, they can begin the process of rostering patients to the practice.”
There are around 3,790 patients on the Need a Family Practice Registry for Digby, Clare and Weymouth. Balser said the family practice expects to reach out to over 75 people on the registry each week.
“It will take some time, but we expect that a large number of people on the registry from Digby County will have an opportunity to be attached to the practice in the coming year,” she said.
The Digby General Hospital sees frequent closures of its emergency department – sometimes spanning several hours, other times several days.
As of Dec. 27, Nova Scotia Health had announced closures impacting hours on 20 days in December. There were mobile drop-in clinics scheduled on Dec. 23, 28 and 30.
Shirley Isles, board chair of the Bear River and Area Community Health Clinic, said they are pleased to offer services to residents through other clinics.
“We have always worked hard to provide a range of health and wellness services at our clinic. The addition of these new providers will certainly be welcomed by the community,” Isles said.
Balser again highlighted that while the health-care team is based at the Digby & Area Health Services Centre, it provides care at clinics in Digby, Bear River, Weymouth and Freeport.
“This allows residents in those communities easier access to care," she said. "There are also residents on the Need a Family Practice list that would have previously relied on virtual care. We will now see many residents in Digby and surrounding areas come off the list and have more consistent in-person care available to them.”
By definition, a collaborative family practice team has at least three healthcare providers working together to care for patients
In May, the province announced $17 million to build and strengthen 60 clinics across the province. Strengthening a clinic or team refers to increased staffing, funding, and/or renovations. Of the 60 clinics, 17 are in Nova Scotia Health's western zone.
“The success we are seeing in recruitment to the Digby Family Practice team is encouraging as we continue to recruit emergency department physicians and other providers to support the Digby General Hospital,” said Balser. “Digby County has opened their arms to welcome new healthcare workers to the community and make sure they feel supported. This sense of community is a big factor in retaining healthcare workers.”