Download Press Release Open Houses Planned For New Medical Clinic

Press Release
Open Houses Planned For New Medical Clinic
Saddle Hills County, AB, October 15, 2015. The fivemunicipalities who are funding the construction of the Central
Peace Health Clinic are planning three open houses for community members and residents in order to provide
information and answer questions from the public.
The open houses are scheduled for: October 28 in Saddle Hills County (County Complex); November 3 in
Eaglesham (Eaglesham Hall); and, November 5 in Spirit River (Community Center). All three events will be held
between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm.
The architect, Roger Field, of Roger Field Architect Corporation of Grande Prairie, will be on hand with the latest
building layout, preliminary floor plans and architectural drawings for public viewing.
The Central Peace Health Clinic has been in the works since the summer of 2014 when the five municipalities –
Town of Spirit River, MD of Spirit River, Village of Rycroft, Birch Hills County and Saddle Hills County – got
together in order to provide increased medical and dental services and increased certainty about the long term
availability of those services in the Central Peace River area.
When then Clinic Development Coordinator Katherine Stevenson first sought feedback on the proposed clinic in
July of 2014, she found near unanimous agreement in the five municipalities on the need for the clinic and the
need for the services it will provide.
The 10,000 sq. ft. clinic will provide space and services for five doctors, two dentists, a Primary Care Network
(PCN) nurse and a mental health worker. Currently, Spirit River has three MDs and one dentist who serve the
entire region.
One of the possible improvements to the delivery of care which will come with, and as a result of, the G5
initiative, is a move to full electronic filing and records storage. The move from paper-based charts to electronic
record-keeping represents a significant investment on the part of the five municipalities, and would bring the
new clinic up to the latest standards in electronic medical record systems.
“It is important to note that, other than a $200,000 grant from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs in support of the
Spirit River Medical Clinic Feasibility Study, prepared by Katherine Stevenson, the G5 municipalities are paying
for this clinic themselvesalong with donations. This is a local initiative,” says Jim Squire, who took over the role of
Clinic Development Coordinator in January of 2015.
Safe
Strong
Sustainable
71977 Range Road 84 •JunctionofHwy 49 and725 • P: (780) 864-3760 • F:(780) 864-3904 •www.saddlehills.ab.ca
MailingAddress:RR 1SpiritRiver,AB T0H 3G0
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Primary among the concerns identified by Stevenson were: the need for more doctors; the need for both a PCN
nurse and mental health worker; privacy and comfort through such things as soundproof examination rooms,
spacious waiting areas; additional parking; and, private reception areas. Additional 'flex space' has been built
into the design of the clinic for possible future addition of health services
Squire says the whole process has been community-driven and built on the needs and expectations of the
citizens, doctors, dentists and other medical professionals from the five municipalities.
“The work done by Katherine (Stevenson) and those on the G5 Medical Clinic Committee has been incredibly
meticulous, open and community-based,” says Squire, adding that the councils of all five municipalities deserve
credit for recognizing the need for top-notch health services in the region and acting on that need.
The clinic (building and property) will be owned by the five member municipalities of the G5 and leased to a
non-profit Part 9 Company which will operate the building and lease space to the medical practitioners at armslength from the municipalities.
Construction on the clinic is expected to begin in the spring of 2016 and completion is expected in early spring of
2017.
Squire says the building is being built with a view to serving the medical and healthcare needs of the five
municipalities for up to 50 years.
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For further information please contact
Michael Archer, Communication Coordinator
Phone: 1-888-864-3760 (ext. 134) Email:[email protected]
Safe
Strong
Sustainable
71977 Range Road 84 •JunctionofHwy 49 and725 • P: (780) 864-3760 • F:(780) 864-3904 •www.saddlehills.ab.ca
MailingAddress:RR 1SpiritRiver,AB T0H 3G0