Touchwood Qu'Appelle communities partner to deliver better care
- EFN Staff | January 13, 2015
Residents
in the Touchwood Qu’Appelle area now have improved access to primary health
care services thanks to an innovative multi-community partnership. Fort
Qu’Appelle, Balcarres and Lestock are part of the Touchwood Qu’Appelle Primary
Health Care Network, which also serves the First Nations in the area.
Rural and Remote Health Minister Greg Ottenbreit joined members of the public, health region
representatives, health care providers and local officials for a grand opening
ceremony in Fort Qu’Appelle.
“This network will provide easier access and more reliable health services to
people in a broad area,” Ottenbreit said. “Together with our partners,
we’ll continue efforts to improve patient experience and ensure more stable,
sustainable primary health services for everyone in the province, no matter
where they live.”
Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region and All Nations Healing Hospital partnered in
the development of this multi-community model of care in consultation with
communities, First Nations and health care providers.
“I appreciate the effort of those involved in creating this innovative approach
to delivering health care by developing partnerships between communities and
strengthening primary health care teams that provide a broad range of services
at Primary Health Care centres in Fort Qu’Appelle, Balcarres and Lestock,”
Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region CEO Keith Dewar said. “Enabling people to
access the care they need, when they need it, closer to home will result in
healthier communities.”
The Touchwood Qu’Appelle Primary Health Care Network provides a broad range of
services:
- Core services (all sites) - Lab and X-ray, nursing and reception/clinical administration support services in each site.
- Rotational services offered by appointment or same day (walk-in) - Physician services (based in Fort Qu’Appelle) and Nurse Practitioner services in each site. Midwifery services are offered through All Nations Healing Hospital.
- Rotational services by appointment (all sites) - Dietitian, home care, diabetes education, physical and occupation therapies, public health nursing, and mental health and addictions counseling services.
- On-demand services (all sites) - EMS and HealthLine.
Patients can
access services at any of the Primary Health Care centres. Each centre
has a Primary Health Care Registered Nurse to ensure continuity of care and
help patients navigate health services.
The network’s primary health care team includes physicians, Nurse
Practitioners, Primary Health Care Registered Nurses, clinic assistants,
community-based service personnel and home care staff. Health care providers
rotate between the three sites. This helps provide more reliable,
predictable services and reduces the need to travel for patients.
“This centre offers all the services a patient needs in a rural town,” Fort
Qu’Appelle patient David Yee said. “There is access to doctors,
dietitians, mental health services and home care at any time. Having all
of these services in one place make this centre a success.”
The three sites have introduced an Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system to
improve communication between health care providers, and help provide more
efficient, better coordinated care for patients. A patient’s health
information is immediately available to all team members in any of the
collaborative sites through the EMR.
The Touchwood Qu’Appelle Network is one of the eight primary health care
innovation sites funded by the Ministry of Health.
The provincial government has invested $13.2 million since 2012 to support
strengthened primary health care in the province. This includes $3.42
million in 2014-15. The funding helps health regions stabilize services
and supports innovative models of primary health care.
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