Northwest gets neighbourhood health centre

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/02/2014 (4486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s a new multi-service health care centre in northwest Winnipeg. Area residents now have an easier time finding a family doctor and can also take advantage of the social services offered at the clinic.

All this is happening at Access NorWest/Winnipeg Regional Health Centre at 785 Keewatin St.
The large, impressive Access centre cost $4.7 million. The NorWest service area stretches from Seven Oaks in the north to the Weston community to the south.

Access NorWest was officially opened last summer. It’s the latest of six such community health centres located at strategic corners in Winnipeg. However, the beautiful Keewatin Street facility is hidden behind the Esso car wash, just south of Burrows Avenue.

The busy clinic has already registered over 1,500 clients. Other than meeting the health and social needs of the people in the community, the Access centre also helps reduce the pressure on emergency waiting rooms in Winnipeg hospitals.

The Access centre is open for business Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Saturdays the centre is open from 9 a.m to 3 P.m.

Over 100 front-line health professionals work at the clinic and there’s a core team of over 20 doctors, nurse-practitioners, nurses and mental-health professionals.

“We are here for the community, our team strive daily to offer the best possible service to our clients”, said Renata Cook, primary care co-ordinator.

It’s refreshing to see that there is very little or no lineup at Access NorWest when people arrive for their appointments.

In addition to the family doctors and primary care services, residents in the northwest of Winnipeg are also able to access a variety of health and social services, including: diabetes education and support, nutrition counselling, mental-health service, healthy food preparation, health education and child care assistance. A medical laboratory is on site also.  
Neighbourhood clinics are a new way in medical care and preventative medicine. The Manitoba government is planning to build another 16 Access centres across the province.

“By locating a clinic, health and social services together in one place, patients can connect with the right services close to home to address their health needs at the time they need them the most,” said Arlene Wilgosh, president and CEO of Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

For more info on Access NorWest programs and services, visit www.norwestcoop.ca or call 204-938-5900.   

Derek Dabee is a community correspondent for The Maples. You can contact him at ddabee@mymts.net