New Clinic To Bring Doctors to Yarmouth

Residents of the Yarmouth area will soon see their health-care services expand with the establishment of a new primary health care clinic at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital. Up to three medical graduates will work at the clinic, helping to serve the community.

The approval to develop a clinic was announced today, Aug. 18, by Health Minister Angus MacIsaac, while he visited the South West Nova District Health Authority. The idea was conceived by the district health authority, and is one of many initiatives being worked on by the Department of Health and the authority to address physician recruitment and retention efforts.

"This clinic will bring much-needed services to residents who have been short of family doctors for far too long," said Mr. MacIsaac. "It will improve access and is part of the solution to reduce wait times, by offering the right mix of services in the right location."

The medical practice will be led by a local physician, who will serve as mentor for two to three internationally-trained medical graduates. The doctors will be identified through the Clinical Assessment for Practice Program, launched in the province by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia in May. The program assesses the clinical skills of international medical graduate physicians, and provides successful candidates with a defined licence to practice medicine in Nova Scotia under the guidance of an experienced physician mentor.

"The goal of the clinic is to support physicians, trained in other countries, in learning about our health system so that they can set up practice in our communities," said Blaise MacNeil, CEO of the health authority. "Our intention is to support these doctors while they progress through the program, and then keep them in the community."

"I'm excited that we've been able to develop such a unique solution to fill a need in this community," said Mr. MacIsaac. "This would not have been possible without the department receiving support from the district, local doctors, and the community."

The clinic will be set up at Yarmouth Regional Hospital and is expected to be operational by February 2006. In addition to the new doctors and their mentor, over time the clinic will include other primary health care providers.