New Collaborative Family Practice Clinic in Masstown

People in west Colchester County now have better access to primary healthcare with a new collaborative family practice in Masstown.

The new clinic, which officially opened today, September 8, shares a care team with the West Colchester Community Health Centre in Bass River.

“These clinics are an excellent example of how investments in primary healthcare and collaboration between communities can improve healthcare for Nova Scotians,” said Colchester North MLA Tom Taggart, on behalf of Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness. “Having these sites work together is an attractive option when recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals to our rural communities.”

The clinics’ care team includes three nurse practitioners, a registered nurse, a pharmacist, a social worker and three administrative support staff. A part-time doctor will join the Masstown clinic in January.

These clinics provide the care Nova Scotians need and deserve and are part of Action for Health, the government’s plan to improve healthcare.

Quotes:

“For over 12 years, I worked as a nurse in the emergency department. I saw first-hand the need for people to have access to timely care close to where they live. As a licensed nurse practitioner, I am actively providing community-based primary healthcare to those in this community, and I look forward to watching the clinic’s services and access continue to evolve under Nova Scotia Health.”

– Erika Baird, nurse practitioner, Masstown Collaborative Family Practice Clinic

“The society believes the future looks positive for the delivery of healthcare in our area. A collaborative system will ultimately give people of Bass River and surrounding communities greater access to healthcare and ensure that the needs of our communities are served.”

– Joe Whalen, Chair, West Colchester Medical Society

Quick Facts:

• the new collaborative family practice in Masstown, which started seeing patients in June, is the first turnkey clinic to open in the area
• a collaborative clinic has at least three healthcare providers working together to care for patients
• the West Colchester Community Health Centre came under the ownership of Nova Scotia Health in January
• 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
• the locations of the 60 new and strengthened clinics by Nova Scotia Health zone are: 12 in northern, 17 in eastern, 14 in central and 17 in western

Additional Resources:

More information on the 60 new and expanded clinics across the province is available at: https://novascotia.ca/news/docs/2023/05/10/primary-healthcare-announcement-fact-sheet.pdf

Action for Health: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/

News release - New Collaborative Family Practice Clinic in Amherst: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230719001

Mandate letter of the Minister of Health and Wellness: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-DHW.pdf