A new integrated community health care centre will be constructed in Stephenville, which will help increase access to health care in the Stephenville/Bay St. George region.
Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NL Health Services) has awarded a contract valued at approximately $2 million per year to GDR Enterprises Limited to lease space for 20 years at a new 41,140 square-feet facility, to be constructed at the corner of Connecticut Drive and Minnesota Avenue, near the Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital.
In addition to housing the Stephenville/Bay St. George Family Care Team, the new facility will consolidate into one location existing health services in the area from other locations, including:
- Mental health and addictions services;
- The Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) team, which provides treatment of illness and symptoms, hands-on assistance with daily living activities, and recovery support for individuals with serious mental illness;
- Community support program offering services to seniors and individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities;
- Developmental health services, including speech-language pathology, audiology services, and direct home services; and
- Public Health.
The Family Care Team’s leased space will include clinics, exam rooms, procedure and treatment rooms, medication rooms, telehealth, counselling and interview rooms, meeting rooms, offices and reception areas.
The Department of Health and Community Services and NL Health Services anticipate construction on the new facility to be completed in late 2024.
Residents who do not have a primary care provider now or who expect to not have one within the next three months can register with Patient Connect NL online at https://patientconnect.nlchi.nl.ca/, or by phone at 1-833-913-4679.
NL Health Services will work to assign those who register to a Family Care Team or primary health care provider when one becomes available in their area. To date:
- 19 Family Care Teams have been announced for the province;
- The number of people rostered with Family Care Teams has risen from approximately 28,000 people in March 2023 to more than 50,625 in November; and
- The number of health care professionals employed with family care teams has grown from 100 in April to 203 in October.
Residents will be contacted by someone from the clinic to book an appointment. There may be a waiting period from the time that patients register to the time when they receive an appointment with the clinic.
More information on Family Care Teams is available by visiting the Provincial Government’s Health Care Action website. More information for health care professionals interested working in Newfoundland and Labrador is available at workinhealthnl.ca.
As part of a record investment in health care, Budget 2023 included $21.2 million to fund 10 teams for 2023-24, along with an eleventh team on the Burin Peninsula. Once fully implemented, these new teams will provide access to primary care for up to 80,000 people.
Information on tenders and requests for proposals issued and awarded by the Provincial Government and other public bodies is available by visiting www.merx.com.
Quotes
“We are excited about the progress on establishing Family Care Teams throughout the province. We’re also excited about the reviews we have heard about the teams from health care professionals and patients. We encourage everyone interested in getting access to primary health care to register at our Patient Connect website, and any health care professional interested in working with a team to visit our Extraordinary Everyday website. We look forward to the Family Care Team moving to this new location next year, and more Family Care Teams opening in the province in 2024.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services
“This is a very positive development for the whole Bay St. George area. The new facility will help with the recruitment of health care professionals to the area and result in better care for the people of the area. I am very pleased to see the new Family Care Team approach at the new centralized location for the community-based health care services.”
Scott Reid
MHA for St. George’s – Humber
“The new community health centre will be of great benefit for residents in the Stephenville/Bay St. George Health Neighbourhood and we are pleased with the support from government to move forward with construction off this facility. This new space will enhance access to primary care and community services, strengthen collaboration and provide a centralized location for community-based health care services. The Family Care Team and community services offered at the site will support individuals in the Stephenville/Bay St. George Health Neighbourhood in the prevention and management of chronic disease and improve access for patient appointments.”
Teara Freake
Vice-President and COO Western Zone, NL Health Services
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