Canora Celebrates New Health and Wellness Centre Grand Opening

Released on November 19, 2015

Today, Canora celebrated the grand opening of the Health and Wellness Centre in the newly-renovated space at Canora Hospital.  The primary health care clinic and Collaborative Emergency Centre (CEC) have recently been co-located at the centre to better serve patients.

Rural and Remote Health Minister Greg Ottenbreit and Canora-Pelly MLA Ken Krawetz joined residents, health care providers, local dignitaries and health region representatives at the event.

“Canora Health and Wellness Centre is a great example of patient-centred care,” Ottenbreit said.  “It provides a ‘one stop shop’ for patients, where they can receive stable, timely access to health services in the community.  Our government is pleased to support this model of care that enhances the patient experience while improving work-life balance for our excellent health care providers.”

The Canora project involved three components: the CEC model to stabilize emergency department coverage, extended hours of primary health care appointments, and construction of the Canora Health and Wellness Centre to bring the team together under one roof.

“The Canora Health and Wellness Centre is well designed and our hospital patients, the emergency department, lab and x-ray departments are all close,“ Canora Health and Wellness Centre Dr. Hamed Afshari said.  ”As a member of the primary health care team, I can offer my patients more options for appointment times and, because the CEC takes over in the evening, I am able to spend more time with my family.  It is a very good system and one that attracted me to Canora.”

The provincial government contributed $775,000 toward the renovation at the Canora Hospital and is providing $375,000 in annual funding to support the operation of the CEC in Canora.  The Town of Canora, several surrounding municipalities and the local health foundation have pledged additional funding of approximately $200,000 to cover primary health clinic equipment, furniture and other expenses.

 “Thank you to the community for their support and to the health region and health care providers for their leadership and hard work to make this happen,” Krawetz said.  “This new centre is a wonderful example of how great ideas and partnerships benefit residents and help keep Saskatchewan strong.”

“The Town of Canora has long promised a lifestyle focused on strong family values that are centred around small town living with great education, wide recreation opportunities and the very best possible health care,” Canora Mayor Gina Rakochy said.  “The Health and Wellness Centre is a testament to one of those pillars.”

Since July of 2014, the first two phases of the CEC model were in operation.  The emergency department nighttime model has been in place at the Canora Hospital and extended hours of primary health care available at the Canora Medical Clinic, which was downtown.

“We are very pleased with how well the CEC model of care is working in Canora,” Sunrise Health Region President and CEO Suann Laurent said.  “Since the CEC model was implemented, there have been no emergency department service interruptions, and primary health care appointments are more accessible with longer weekday hours and weekend appointment times available.”

Canora is the third fully implemented CEC in Saskatchewan.  CECs help provide access to stable, reliable health services and alleviate emergency service disruptions often experienced by rural communities.

The CECs use an innovative model of care that improves access to both primary health care and emergency care.  Extended hours of primary health care are offered 12 hours a day weekdays (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.), and from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.  Emergency care is provided during the day by a team of physicians in the community.  Overnight, emergencies are handled by a registered nurse and paramedic team with access to support from a STARS physician specializing in trauma and emergency.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: tmcmurchy@health.gov.sk.ca

Sharon Tropin 
Sunrise Health Region
Yorkton
Phone: 306-786-0144
Email: sharon.tropin@shr.sk.ca