Residents of Greater Sudbury will benefit from improved access to primary care with the opening of another City of Lakes Family Health Team (COLFHT) clinic in Chelmsford.
Local dignitaries, community partners, healthcare providers and patients turned out on Friday to celebrate the milestone by officially opening the newly renovated healthcare clinic in the former Rayside-Balfour town hall.
Dr. Chris McKibbon, the Chair of the Board of Directors, said "10 years ago we envisioned a network of primary care clinics that would make healthcare easily accessible for all residents of Greater Sudbury.
Today we celebrate the realization of that vision.” In recognition of Dr. McKibbon’s leadership and volunteer commitment, the program and education room in the clinic was dedicated in his name.
Dr. Kristie Herranen is one of three doctors, all graduates from the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, working at the newly opened clinic in Chelmsford. Dr. Herranen said "Many of my patients haven't had a family doctor for many years. It’s particularly satisfying to provide these people with access to a team of interprofessional healthcare providers.”
The other doctors working with Dr. Herranen at the clinic are Dr. Steve Daniel and Dr. Melanie Patrie. Executive Director, David Courtemanche added, “We are closing the gap on orphan patients. Our partnership with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and the City of Greater Sudbury are helping to make the family physician shortage a thing of the past. ”The clinic is located in the former town hall of the Municipality of Rayside-Balfour.
Once fully operational, the clinic will serve 5,000 patients. The clinic features a telemedicine suite that is connected to the Ontario Telemedicine Network. Similar to our other clinics, all patients records are managed through an electronic medical record system called Telus Health PS Suite.
All physicians at the clinic will have hospital privileges so that their patients can be seen by them if they are admitted to hospital. And after hours clinics will be available daily for patients who need to be seen for an urgent health issue.
Medical students and residents as well as students from multiple health disciplines will have clinical placements overseen by our medical preceptors.
Anyone looking for a family physician can register at yourfamilyhealthteam.
