Residents in Weyburn and the surrounding area will benefit from improved access to health services thanks to a new primary health care clinic.
Representatives from Sun Country Health Region, clinic staff and residents gathered for a grand opening ceremony at the MNP Building.
"The new primary health care clinic will help improve access to quality care for Weyburn's growing population," said Health Minister Dustin Duncan. "Our government is committed to meeting the health care needs of people in our province, so they can enjoy a better quality of life."
Health services at the Weyburn Primary Health Care Clinic will be provided by an interdisciplinary team. Four family physicians are currently part of the team, and recruitment is underway for a nurse practitioner. Regional staff provides visiting services, including chronic disease management.
Growth in the Weyburn area has increased demand for basic health services. Sun Country Health Region and the community worked together to meet this need, and ensure availability of primary health care services.
"The clinic will provide increased access for patients, help stabilize physician services, and reduce pressure on the acute care system," said Sun Country Health Region President and CEO Marga Cugnet. "The health region acted quickly last summer to find more doctors for Weyburn and area. We needed to find a space for them to practice, and this was the perfect opportunity to open a primary health care clinic."
"The City of Weyburn joins in celebration with Sun Country Health Region as we announce a new option for health services that will help address the needs of our changing community," said Weyburn Mayor Debra Button. "As we continue to grow, we are confident that our health care needs will continue to be appropriately met through a variety of health care services and facilities."
Community and patient involvement were key during the clinic development process.
"As a member of the Patient Family Advisory Council for Sun Country Health Region, I'm seeing that health care professionals are listening to patient needs," said Patient Advisor Carmen Stephens. "That is very apparent in the design of the new Weyburn Primary Health Care Clinic. It was designed with patients and families in mind."
The government provided more than $300,000 to Sun Country Health Region to support this initiative.
The Weyburn Primary Health Clinic offers extended hours from Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and regular clinic hours on Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The clinic has also introduced the Electronic Medical Record, which allows team members to deliver more efficient patient care.
