B.C. city buys health clinic to help community retain and recruit new doctors

A group of medical professionals in British Columbia’s northeast is taking proactive steps to address the primary care crisis in their region. With the help of the City of Dawson Creek, the Eljen Medical Clinic was saved from closure and transformed into the Rimrock Health Centre. This initiative is part of a larger effort to bring team-based care to a community where many residents are without a family doctor.

The South Peace Division of Family Practice, a group of family physicians serving Dawson Creek and surrounding areas, saw an opportunity to not only prevent the loss of medical care in their community but also to establish a Primary Care Network. This network, which brings together various healthcare professionals, aims to provide comprehensive medical care to patients.

The Rimrock Health Centre is currently in the process of hiring 21 new healthcare providers, including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, dietitians, and social workers. The goal is to attach a portion of the 6,500 unattached patients in the region to these providers, ultimately reducing the number of residents without a family doctor.

While the establishment of the Primary Care Network may take up to four years to fully implement, the Rimrock Health Centre is already providing team-based maternity care through the Chickadee Maternity Collaborative Clinic. This collaborative clinic, comprised of midwives, physicians, and nurse practitioners, has successfully reduced burnout rates among healthcare providers and increased access to maternity care in the community.

The City of Dawson Creek is also actively involved in addressing the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals in the region. By participating in a doctor-led committee, the city is working to ensure that the Rimrock Health Centre operates at full capacity as soon as possible.

The efforts of the South Peace Division of Family Practice and the City of Dawson Creek serve as a model for other communities grappling with primary care shortages. By prioritizing team-based care and collaboration among healthcare providers, they are working towards improving access to medical care and ultimately enhancing the health and well-being of residents in the region.